DORCHESTER have become 'too easy to score against' according to manager Tom Killick. 

The Magpies are in action later today against league leaders Merthyr and will have to sure up defensively if they hope to get anything from the game.

The Welsh side are on an unbeaten run of seven games and have scored 13 goals in their last three games. 

Dorchester on the other hand have struggled in front of goal and have become 'soft' at the back in recent weeks, but Killick hopes a game against the league's best side will refocus the team. 

He said: "We have got in a bit of a habit of being too easy to score against and scoring has been a problem, so with those two things together, you are not going to win games like that.

"It is not through a lack of effort or quality other than a softness in our defending, and at the other end, a failure to take the opportunities created into goals.

"That's been the story really since the Totton game and unless we can shift that we are probably going to struggle to get results.

"I would say it's more of a mental issue of needing to concentrate and focus more.

"The softness we showed at Gosport, the players know if they show that on Saturday we could be six down."

Killick is looking forward to testing himself against the league's top side though, and believes these are the kind of games that players love to take part in. 

He added: "It is one of those games as players you want to embrace.

"It will be a well attended game and their supporters are really passionate and our crowd is developing to be a positive one and we can expect it to be a good game."

"In terms of their quality it is going to be a tough test.

"Sometimes their weakness can be playing away in winter as they are used to their 4g pitch, but with us having one too, there is not that advantage.

He continued: "It's a game as a manager I look forward to and if we are able to win it will give the team a real feeling of elation."

There are a couple doubts for the game though, with two players set to face late fitness tests. 

Wayne Robinson has been carrying a slight problem with his knee in recent weeks and Wes Fogden will also be assessed ahead of the game. 

Shaq Gwengwe will definitely be missing though as he serves the final game of his four game ban.

Kick off at The Avenue is at 3pm on Saturday, November 16.