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Head-to-head
by
Adam Summers
New signing Chris McPhee is expected to have his first run out in
a Weymouth shirt at the Jewson Stadium tomorrow when the Terras
travel to local rivals Dorchester Town (3pm).
The 25-year-old, who scored the winner for Ebbsfleet United in
their FA Trophy final victory over Torquay United at Wembley, joins
up with his new team-mates today and manager John Hollins is looking
forward to seeing his acquisition in action.
McPhee's late arrival for pre-season training is down to his involvement
in England C's successful Four Nations campaign in May and the fact
he recently got married.
Hollins said: "Chris is in today and I am looking forward
to seeing how he fits in with the rest of the squad. I can see no
reason why he cannot be involved tomorrow and all being well he
will get 20 or 30 minutes."
Hollins will also run the rule over trialists Anthony Mason and
Andy Taylor tomorrow. He added: "Mason is a centre forward
from Plymouth Argyle while Taylor is a midfielder from Exeter City.
"We are looking at things game by game at the moment and putting
people in to see how they perform, and I am pleased with how things
are shaping up."
The Terras impressed in a 2-1 loss against Coca-Cola League One
side Bristol Rovers on Wednesday and Hollins is expecting his men
to face another stern test at Dorchester.
He said: "I was delighted with how we did the other night
and I think the supporters were pleased to.
"We looked really sharp and put some good moves together against
a strong side that are two divisions above us but tomorrow will
be a different game again.
"Dorchester will not hold off us while we have got the ball
like Bristol Rovers did. Instead it will be more like a Conference
game but we will handle that.
"Santos Gaia took a blow to the head on Wednesday and we ended
up taking him off as a precaution but I fully expect him to be involved
tomorrow along with the rest of the squad."
Magpies' manager Shaun Brooks is also looking forward to seeing
his side step up their pre-season preparations after three wins
against Wessex League opposition.
He said: "It should be a decent game. They're at a similar
stage in their preparations as us and they had a good workout against
Bristol Rovers on Tuesday so I'm sure they'll give us a good workout
tomorrow.
"In previous games we've seen a lot of the ball and we've
been on top of teams but against Weymouth we will be stepping up
a level and I feel it's the right time to do so, it'll be a far
stiffer test."
Jamie Gleeson, Nathan Peprah-Annan and Tom Mitchell are all carrying
slight knocks so are unlikely to play.
But Brooks, whose side play their first home game of pre-season,
will continue to run the rule over several trialists while hoping
to bring in a new keeper for the derby clash.
He added: "We will be looking at certain players again and
I'm hoping to have another keeper come down for the game. We've
also got to be aware of the fact that we have a tough game at home
to Portsmouth on Monday. Two games in three days is hard work at
the best of times let alone now."
A number of trialists, including striker Leon Osei, midfielder
Bill Puckett and ex-Magpie defender Michael Walker, all featured
in a youthful Dorchester XI that drew 0-0 at Wessex League outfit
Shaftesbury on Wednesday night.
Brooks though, will wait to speak to chairman Eddie Mitchell, who
returns from Dubai tomorrow, before making a decision on those hoping
to earn a deal with the county town club.
Dorchester (from): Hutchings, Jermyn, Smeeton, Marsh-Brown, Walker,
Browne, O'Brien, Bowles, Liburd, Gill, Clay, Nicholson, Watts, Hill,
Crittenden, Puckett, Aujla, Akim, Forbes, Osei, Mudge, Moss, Morgan.
Weymouth: (from): Knowles, Horsell, Beale, Mawer, Doe, Bygrave,
Santos Gaia, Sandwith, Ironside, Webb, Robinson, Williams, Coutts,
Cutler, Tribe, Frampton, Reiffer, Beavon, Joseph-Dubois, Agera,
McPhee, Mason, Taylor, Biles.
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