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Vickers: We must catch Fleet cold
by
Ky Capel
Caretaker-manager Ashley Vickers is hoping to catch his opponents
cold tonight (7.45pm) as visiting Thurrock make the long journey
to the Jewson Stadium.
The Fleet face a three-hour trip ahead of this evening’s
Blue Square South contest and Vickers, whose Dorchester side enter
the game on the back of a 2-0 win at Weston-super-Mare, is looking
for an explosive opening from his men.
However, he knows there is plenty of work to be done to have any
chance of avenging October’s 5-2 defeat at Ship Lane.
He said: “They’re a strong side, especially out wide,
and they’re also pretty potent up front, so we’ll need
to be on our mettle.
“However, they’ve got to travel a long way on a Tuesday
night and it’s tough, especially if you’ve been at
work in the day.
“Perhaps we can use it to our advantage, start well and
take the game to them.”
Vickers may have missed the last encounter between the two sides
through suspension, but he has painful memories of the clash having
been present in the Magpies’ dugout.
He added: “They battered us to be honest and got a lot of
joy down the flanks, so our full-backs will have to be at the races.
“Having said that we need to try and stop the ball getting
out wide and look to get our own players on the ball.
“It was nice to get a positive result on Saturday and it’s
a result that has been coming – another victory would really
help us move away from the bottom three.
“The lads are full of confidence, we’ve gone three
games unbeaten and let’s hope we can make it four tonight.”
Regan Coward (back) and Jamie Gleeson (pelvis) remain sidelined
while Jake Smeeton, who picked up an ankle injury at the weekend,
is a major doubt.
Vickers said: “Jake’s doubtful as he’s got a
swollen ankle. Everyone else came through Saturday unscathed and
they’re all buzzing at the moment.”
Tonight’s opponents are unbeaten in four and have enjoyed
four victories in their last five league encounters with Dorchester.
The Magpies though, have won three of the last four meetings on
home soil.
Magpies (from): Evans, Filkins, Critchell, R Hill, Martin, K Hill,
Walker, Bowles, Vickers, Jermyn, Coutts, Nodwell, Crittenden, Devlin,
Moss, Emati-Emati, Groves, Charles.
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