DORCHESTER Town’s BetVictor Southern Premier South battle at Yate Town tomorrow (3pm) begins a crucial run of six games, according to boss Leigh Robinson.

The statistics make grim reading for the county town side, currently at rock bottom of the 22 teams in the division, six points off Beaconsfield who have three games in hand.

Dorchester are 11 points off Walton Casuals in 20th and, to be sure of absolute safety, must haul themselves above Yate in 19th – the Bluebells sitting 14 points clear with one game in hand.

With 11 games for Dorchester to preserve their status in the division, Robinson recognises time is running out.

Speaking to Echosport, the former Taunton boss is targeting the incoming stretch of games including clashes with Wimborne, Gosport and Walton Casuals as the Magpies bid to avoid the drop.

He said: “(Yate) is the start of a run of five or six games that are massive.

“I have to stress, on paper, there are some winnable games against teams in the bottom half, a few home games. Harrow are in there, Chesham which is tough, and then Walton Casuals.

“We need to get points on the board to keep alive and kicking but more importantly to change the energy around the place, change the mood.

“Since we’ve been here it’s been incredibly tough with being forced to chop and change the team.

“We’ve only had three players that were available for (all of) our first seven games. We can only hope that in these next six games we can finally get the team we want out on the pitch.

“If we do that, I’m sure it will lead to some positive results.”

Looking at Yate, Robinson expects an “extremely open” game due to the size of the Gloucestershire team’s pitch.

“We have to adapt,” Robinson said. “Going up to Yate, it’s a massive pitch and it’s generally an extremely open game up there because there’s so much space to run with the ball and create chances.

“With where we are at the moment, we’d rather have a nice end-to-end game than a tight game.

“We’re going to have to think about the formation and personnel pretty carefully, because it’s quite a unique game with the size of the pitch. We’re certainly expecting an open game with goals.”

Charlie Madden (foot), Callum Rose (ankle and foot) and Billy Lowes (shoulder) remain out. New signing Ollie Griggs could feature.