DORCHESTER Town manager Steve Thompson is looking to extend the gap to Kings Langley when the two teams meet in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division at the Avenue Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

With the two sides separated by just two places and eight points, Thompson is keen to begin looking up the table rather than down.

The Magpies have the third-best home record in the league in the past five games having taken 12 points during that time with wins over St Ives, Farnborough, Tiverton and Redditch before a 1-0 loss to Hereford.

But Thompson is wary of the Kings, who are unbeaten in four games having picked up impressive draws away to Kettering, Slough and Redditch.

He told Echosport: “We’re back at home again and our home record is very good.

“There’s an eight-point gap between the teams and we want to look up rather than behind. I don’t make too many distinctions between home and away but we must try and continue the home form.

“We had a blip with the Hereford game but it was always going to be tough.”

Dorchester could rise to 18th if results go their way, but Thompson is focused on a Kings’ side that drew 2-2 with the Magpies earlier this season and who currently lie in 21st place.

“Looking back at that game I felt they came out of the traps very quickly that day. They looked like a team that could get out of the bottom four – results lately have shown that.

“It’s a big game in that respect. I know only one goes down but you don’t want to be in the bottom four.

“It would be nice to go up one. If we do win the game it allows us to get in touch with the three or four that are just above Merthyr,” he said.

In midweek, Dorchester extended the loan deal of Callum Rose until the end of the season and, although Thompson is speaking to other players, does not expect a deal to be done soon.

He said: “Callum has done very well for us.

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“Hopefully the Dorchester fans and everyone at Dorchester is delighted as he’s been a very good acquisition.

“I’ve been speaking to a couple of players but nothing looks like it will be done imminently. It could be that we go in with the squad we have.”

Luke Winsper (ankle) and Phil Ormrod (groin) are expected to miss the game, but Billy Lowes and Sam Lanahan could return.

n Dorchester Town Reserves saw their Wyvern Midweek Combination League game at Poole Town postponed. A date for fulfilment of the fixture is yet to be announced.

n Dorchester Sports travel to Swanage Town and Herston tomorrow (3pm) looking to return to winning ways after a 2-1 defeat to Westland Sports Reserves in their last match.