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Striker Ben returns for Devon trip
by
Ky Capel
Dorchester Town welcome back star striker Ben Watson for tomorrow’s
trip to Bideford (2pm) – but will be without the services
of goalkeeper Jason Matthews and wing wizard Nick Crittenden.
A calf injury has restricted Watson to just 45 minutes of action
thus far but the summer signing is set to return at Kingsley Road
as the Magpies aim to break their pre-season duck.
Unfortunately though, Crittenden misses out due to an ankle problem
while Matthews is unavailable.
Manager Phil Simkin, whose side enter the friendly on the back
of defeats to Exeter, Brighton and Yeovil, said: “We have
enjoyed the three games we have played so far and they have been
great fitness exercises, but it’s been difficult playing three
Football League sides in such a short space of time.
“It amazes me that people forget who we have played against.
We haven’t managed to score yet but we have played three Football
League clubs and our main centre-forward (Ben Watson) has been out
with an injury.
“Tomorrow will be a difficult game for different reasons.
They are flying having just been promoted to a new league (Evo-Stik
Southern Premier) so it will be a different test.
“Ben Watson looks as though he will be fit to play and it’s
almost like a new start for us. I’m not sure what their pitch
will be like but we will look to try and impose our game on them.
“We do have a slight problem with Critts though. He turned
his ankle on Tuesday so he won’t take part tomorrow.
“It’s nothing serious but we have to make sure he is
okay for the start of the season.
“Jason has a prior engagement, which he told us about as
soon as he joined, so Sean Lillington will stand in for him. He
has been at places like Hamworthy United and Poole Town so he’s
a more than competent keeper.”
Simkin revealed in yesterday’s Echosport that he was close
to securing a loan deal for an unnamed striker.
Asked for an update, the county town boss added: “There are
now two players who could be coming on loan – the other one
is a defender.
“I have spoken to the club involved again and I’m waiting
to hear back from them.
“There is a possibility that they could play tomorrow but
I’m not 100 per cent sure. They are both highly rated players
and hopefully the deals will come off.”
Another of the Magpies’ recent acquisitions, midfielder Andy
Masson, is also nearing full fitness.
Simkin said: “Andy is close to coming back. He’s probably
a week away from training again but the worse thing we could do
is push him.
“He did the damage to his knee last season but nobody picked
up on it. He felt it when he was training with us and it was Damion
Maston, who is one of the best physios I have ever worked with,
who discovered it was ligament damage.”
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