ASHLEY Vickers admitted that Saturday’s 3-1 win over rivals Weymouth has given him food for thought ahead of the opening game of the season.

The Magpies’ boss labelled his side’s first-half display as “poor” but a half-time rollicking and a handful of changes prompted an improved performance in the second period.

A trademark free-kick from Ryan Hill cancelled out Sam Charles’ 13th-minute opener before the dead-ball specialist put Dorchester in front with another set-piece.

Substitute Stuart Douglas, who the county town side hope to sign later this week, then secured victory by scoring against his former side in the final outing of pre-season for both teams.

With this weekend’s Blue Square Bet South curtain-raiser at Brom-ley just five days away, Vickers has warned that no one’s place in the side is safe.

He said: “We weren’t doing the basics in the first half, the people who came on took their opportunity and that was a game in which players could stake their claim for Saturday.

“It was an opportunity for each and every one of our players. We have massive competition for places and no one is guaranteed a place in the team.

“If they don’t perform then they will be out and someone else will take their place – it’s as simple as that.

“The Weymouth game has given me plenty to think about because the boys who came on did really well.”

Vickers added: “We got dragged into their way of playing in the first half, we changed a couple of things in the second period and we steamrollered them.

“The game itself was a bit of a hiding to nothing for ourselves. I asked the lads to do a professional job and they did that in the end.

“The first half was poor but it was pleasing to see us come through in the way that we did.”

Young trialists Rico Wilson, Tom Richardson and Casius Newton failed to get on the pitch but Vickers is set to offer a prolonged stay to at least two of them.

He said: “We’ll try to get Tom on dual registration forms as he’s got great feet but he needs games at another club.

“We’re also hoping to do something similar with Rico as he’s got something we can work with.

“We may or may not get Casius in on dual registration. It’s unfortunate that we haven’t got a reserve side as we’d be able to keep all of these young lads.”

Dorchester were slow to start at the Bob Lucas Stadium and saw former Magpie Jules Emati-Emati curl an effort over after a mere 32 seconds.

The Terras looked the more settled side throughout the first half and it was they who opened the scoring through ex-Magpie Charles.

Despite the match being a pre-season friendly, neither side was backing down and home midfielder Bradley MaGookin, as well as Magpies Kyle Critchell and Hill, all entered the referee’s notebook.

The latter went closest to scoring for the visitors but his deflected free-kick, from 19 yards, clipped the outside of the right-hand post.

Vickers made a host of changes and his players duly responded with half-time substitute Nick Crittenden teeing up Ryan Moss, only for the latter to head straight at Tom Manley.

The Magpies found their leveller in the 76th minute when they were awarded another free-kick right on the edge of the Terras’ box.

It was a case of third-time lucky for Hill who, having gone close with two previous efforts, found the right corner with power and precision.

And the same man gave Dorchester the lead with just seven minutes to go as he found the near post with another set-piece from the left-hand side.

It was 3-1 not long after as Douglas met a near-post corner from Steve Devlin – back in the team after his trial at Dagenham & Redbridge.

Replacement gloveman Martin Horsell almost gifted a fourth goal when his sliced clearance fell for Moss in the final minute. But the home keeper made amends with a smart stop.

Terras: Manley (Horsell 81) Oldring, Dixon, Clarke, Gerring, MaGookin, King (Min-Kim 65), Litherland (Mawer 46), Emati-Emati (Whyton 69), Charles, Radcliffe.

Magpies: Coward (Evans 46), R Hill, Critchell (Martin 46), Jermyn, Walker, K Hill, Coutts (Crittenden 46), Gleeson (Allen 54), Moss, Groves (Douglas 52), Devlin.

Attendance: 560