Dorchester Town boss Alan Knight is hopeful that injured trio Kyle Critchell, Jake Smeeton and Rico Wilson will all make Saturday’s trip to Weston-super-Mare.

All three players limped out of Tuesday night’s extra-time win over Portland United in the semi-finals of the Dorset Senior Cup.

A foot injury forced Wilson to withdraw at the break, Smeeton pulled up with a hamstring problem in the second half before Critchell sustained damage to his ankle following a late challenge.

However, Knight said: “It wasn’t in the script to lose three players to injury but I’m hoping they will all be in contention for Saturday.

“It wasn’t a dirty game but it was played at a furious pace and people were putting their foot in for the cause.

“The only one who is still struggling for Saturday is Nick Crittenden (ankle).”

Dorchester remain on course to retain the trophy but they were pushed all the way by the lower-league Blues before Ryan Dovell struck in extra-time to secure a 2-1 victory.

Knight had nothing but praise for the Magna Dorset Premier League outfit, adding: “I half expected it to be honest as I have played in and seen games that have panned out in a similar fashion.

“But I have full respect for Portland United and their staff, they were a credit to themselves and their league – they worked their socks off.

“It was their cup final, pardon the cliché, and they had a point to prove after we beat them in a recent friendly.

“The friendly was in danger of biting us on the backside and I tried to spell that out to the lads beforehand.

“I told them to be patient, keep the ball and things would open up. Thankfully Neil Mar-tin produced a bit of magic down the left in extra-time and Ryan Dovell got the goal.

“At 1-0 you think you will go on from there but as in all good stories, their guy scored a worldy of a free-kick to change the outlook of the game.

“Being fair to our boys they stuck at it. We kept believing in our own ability and it paid off in the end.”

Counterpart Stuart Heath also paid tribute to his Blues.

He said: “I was very proud of the players and I was proud to be their manager. They were exceptional and they gave it a real go, which I knew they would.

“We were quite clearly the underdogs but we have a really determined bunch of players and we weren’t just there to make up the numbers.

“We wanted to stay in the game for as long as possible and try and nick something.

“Dorchester are an exceptional side but we matched them for long periods. The players are disappointed at not getting through to the final as that was the aim.

“But when all is said and done, Saturday’s game at Poole Borough is more important for us as the league is our priority.”

* Blue Square Bet South outfit Farnborough have been ded-ucted five points for financial irregularities.