DORCHESTER Town assistant-manager Trevor Senior has denied the Magpies’ inconsistent home form is due to problems acclimatising to the new 3G pitch at the Clayson Stadium.

Steve Thompson’s men have collected just one win in seven home league games but have earned three home wins in cup competitions this season.

Senior clarified he was “not sure” whether the artificial surface had had an adverse effect on form, but added opposing teams were not critical of the turf.

He said: “People have been asking me quite a bit this last week about the pitch, has it made a difference?

“I don’t think anybody’s come here from the visiting teams and complained and I don’t think our lads have moaned about it or if it’s made any difference to them.

“A lot of academy players are brought up on 4G pitches, so they’re used to it. We just take it in our stride.

“Has it helped us? I’m not sure, but it is better when there’s a bit of water on it – it moves the ball a bit quicker – and we’re coming to terms with it.

“You don’t get bobbles like we did last year. We find that a bit strange actually because we’re used to the bobbles!”

Asked whether watering the pitch before games could be looked at, Senior said: “I guess so, yes. It does seem to make a difference when there’s a bit of water on it. It zips off a little better.

“It’s obviously not the same as grass because grass really skids off. When we played at Yate we played some really good football on a decent grass surface which had a bit of rain on it.”