DORCHESTER captain James Dunham praised his side for showing character and belief in the tight games, as they prepare to travel to Christchurch in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League tomorrow (1pm).

The reverse fixture saw a tense battle, from which Dorchester eventually triumphed by just two runs, one of many close encounters that the county town side have won this year.

When asked if the amount of tight games his side have had during the season so far helps keep the team grounded, Dunham told Echosport: “Completely. We have had good finishes in the table the last couple of years as well. At the end of the season when we have reflected we knew that where we went wrong was in the tight games that we just missed out in previous years, which is something we have looked to improve on.

“This year we have definitely had some tight games and we have come out victorious, which shows a lot of character and belief really, which is where I think our main improvements have happened.”

Dorchester head into the match at the top of the table, 11 points clear of Poole Town in second, while their opponents currently sit sixth in the table, 89 points off the relegation spot, but 52 points behind the county town team.

Dorchester make two changes, with both Will and James Caldwell unavailable for the clash, so Jack Owens and Dan Morris come in for the duo.

Dorchester: Ryall, Owens, Mitchem, Barrett, Richardson, Belt, Peak, Morris, Roe, Dunham, Walklett