LIEUTENANT Ashley Vickers is relying on his “soldiers” to successfully carry out his orders and avoid a third straight defeat this evening.

The Magpies travel to fellow strugglers Havant & Waterlooville (7.45pm) on the back of six reversals in their last seven competitive outings – the latest being Satur-day’s 1-0 loss at home to Boreham Wood.

But Vickers is adamant his side can stop the rot tonight, providing they stick to his game plan and refrain from resorting to aimless long balls.

He said: “I need my soldiers out there tonight and I need lads I can trust.

“We are trying to get the ball wide and play a bit more in the right areas but sometimes when we go a goal behind we tend to hit the panic button and that was the case on Saturday.

“Pressure is something that comes in games, but you have to stick to your values and what you have been told to do. We didn’t do that on Saturday but we will bounce back.

“I was disappointed we could not get the ball out wide to players who could have hurt Boreham, like Nick Crittenden. Hopefully we will do it tonight.

“Havant are a good side and it’s been well documented how much money they have. They’ve had an indifferent season so far so we go there with confidence.

“The one thing the lads continue to prove is that they can bounce back from adversity and win important games.”

Dorchester’s last visit to Westleigh Park became an internet sensation after Vick-ers was bizarrely dismissed for tackling a mankini-wearing streaker.

Jake Smeeton and Kyle Critchell also saw red that night in a 3-1 defeat.

The county town chief added: “The last time we went there was unique and that’s the only way to describe it. If I see another streaker I’ll be sure to leave them alone.”

The Magpies welcome back Ben Dickenson (concussion) for this evening’s Blue Square Bet South encounter but Ashley Nicholls (hamstring) is a major doubt while Mark Jermyn (knee) remains sidelined.

Vickers said: “Ben is available tonight, which is great. He is only 18 but he’s going to be a great player and he is one who we will really work with, as well as the likes of Harrison Bell and Jamie Symes.

“Jem is not quite there yet and I’ll need to speak with our physio Damion Maston about Ash, who is not too far away.”

Magpies (from): Walker-Harris, Evans, Tallack, Smeeton, Martin, Critchell, N Walker, Bowles, Bell, Dovell, Gleeson, Nicholls, Devlin, Crittenden, Symes, Moss, Mekki, Flood, Wilson, Dickenson.