DORCHESTER Town boss Steve Thompson admits the Dorset derby with Wimborne Town tomorrow (3pm) is a “massive game” after his side’s last-minute 1-0 defeat to Weymouth on Boxing Day.

Thompson’s men welcome Matty Holmes’ outfit to the Clayson

Stadium seeking to end a long winless run at home in the league stretching back to a 2-1 victory over Hartley Wintney on September 1.

Improving Wimborne prepared for the clash of the Magpies with a stunning 5-2 thrashing of Poole Town at the Black Gold Stadium – elevating the Cuthbury club above Dorchester into 18th, one point ahead.

Ahead of the contest, the fourth between the sides this season, Thompson emphasised how crucial the fixture is given the context of the league table and in terms of a response to the gutting 1-0 loss to arch-rivals Weymouth.

He said: “It’s a very big game, they won (at Poole) so they go above us. It’s a massive game and players have to be upbeat, we’ll have to lick our wounds.

“There’s a few walking wounded – let’s see where we go in terms of the team.”

He added: “We have to recover quickly, there’s not much time, and make sure we’re ready for that game.”

Two players nursing knocks from the Ridgeway derby include Ross Carmichael, who was substituted with a hamstring strain and Harry Kite, who needed treatment for an ankle issue.

Asked whether Kite would be fit for the Wimborne game, Thompson said: “I really don’t know, it’s too early – and Ross.”

Dom Panesar-Dower remains a doubt with a long-running illness, while the fixture could potentially be Kingsley Latham’s last at the club, with the Southampton goalkeeper’s loan from Southampton set to expire in the New Year.

Commenting on the situation, with Kite’s loan from Exeter also set to expire in January, Thompson insisted he would not think about extending the pair’s deals until after the Wimborne game.

“They’re all in January,” Thompson said. “To be fair, that won’t enter my head. I’ve just got to try and get us right for (Wimborne). That’s something to think about after.”

One player who has committed to the club, on a youth loan, is Brennan Camp, the young centre-back impressing Thompson during his 15-minute appearance from the bench against the Terras.

“As soon as Josh (Bailey) got injured, we’re playing a back three at the moment, who again did pretty well, I thought if we’re going to carry on playing a back three we need a fourth player, especially with all the games we’ve got coming up.

“He came on for 15 minutes and I thought he looked accomplished and assured, so it gives us a little bit of leeway – Ross has come off with an injury.

“I couldn’t name the team, I’d have to see how players recover and whether they’re fit,” he said.