Dorchester Reserves boss Phil Simkin has criticised the state of the Sandringham Sports Centre football pitch ahead of his team's Dorset Premier League local derby against Dorchester United tonight (6.30pm).

"I went up to check it out after being warned it wasn't too clever and I was amazed," said Simkin.

"It's rutted and bumpy with holes and divots all over the place and the goalmouths are dreadful. Players could easily get injured and in my opinion it's downright dangerous and I'll be making my feelings known to the league.

"This is supposed to be the top league in the county and we are expected to play on a pitch that makes a lot of pub league pitches look like Wembley.

"I don't know who is responsible for maintaining it but I shouldn't think they have done any work on it since last season. I know if my team had to play there I would be chasing whoever is responsible to do something to improve it."

United manager Kevin Hillier, whose club hire the pitch from Dorchester Town Council, said he agreed with everything his rival boss had said.

"We have been on at the council for several weeks that the pitch needed some attention but nothing has been done," said Hillier.

"We have spent hundreds of pounds on a barrier and a

covered enclosure for spectators so we could provide Dorset Premier League standard football there for local youngsters and it just seems so unfair that the pitch itself has been neglected .

"The other council pitches at the Rec are always well looked after but Sandringham seems to be forgotten."

Town council spokesman Steve Newman said the pitch had a considerable amount of play and they "did the best we can with it".

He said he would send someone to have a look ahead of tonight's game to see if anything could be done to improve it.

The Magpies will be taking a first look at a potential new signing tonight in 19-year-old former Northampton Town midfielder Ryan Tapp.

"Club director Kevin Dove, who has connections in Northampton, is bringing him down for a trial," said Simkin.

The Magpies, last season's keague runners-up could go top if they follow their weekend victory at Stourpaine with another win tonight.

They include striker Warren Byerley and midfielder Steve Legg who were among the unused subs on duty for the club's Conference South team against Margate on Saturday and Havant and Waterlooville on Monday.

United introduce midfielder Jodie Legg, who was

unavailable for Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home by Wareham Rangers, in place of Sam Clark.

Dorchester United: Claxton, Buddin, Coward, Thompson, Rudkin, Moors, Taylor, Cleal, J Hillier, M Hillier, Churchill, Dear, Rimmer, S Hillier, Legg, Hicks.

Dorchester Res: Myers, Wilson, Carter, Llewlyn, Guetlin, Kenway, Legg, W White, Tapp, Byerley, Dovell, Symes, Critchell, McDonald, Williams, Allen, Bullen.