NATHAN Walker is adamant that the Magpies have the physical and mental strength to maintain their good form despite facing a mammoth schedule of eight games this month.

Dorchester Town will visit Weston-super-Mare this afternoon (3pm) knowing a victory could lift them into the top half of the league. And their towering centre-back is confident their climb up the table will continue despite having not played a Blue Square Bet South contest since the 4-0 win at Dartford on November 13.

Walker told Echosport: “January is going to be a long, hard month but we have been doing a lot of fitness and gym work, so there is no reason why we cannot cope with so many games.

“Physically and mentally we are ready, and I am pretty sure we can get some good results despite all the recent snow and postponements having come at the wrong time for us.

“Prior to that, we were scoring goals and keeping clean sheets, and everyone was happy. The challenge now is to immediately get back to that and continue climbing the league.”

Walker reckons hard work is the key to success and is full of praise for manager Ashley Vickers and his assistant Phil Simkin, who have not allowed the squad to rest on their laurels over the past month.

He added: “They have both been superb. We have not missed a session or taken any time off, and everyone is feeling fit and strong, and cannot wait to take on Weston-super-Mare.

“Although we have not got a massive squad, the ones that are here are all top players.

“Many of the lads have played at this level for a few seasons now and all of the youngsters coming through have great potential and ability.

“That is why I feel we have every reason to be confident ahead of the second half of the campaign.”

Commenting on his own form, Walker said: “I was not happy with my first few games when I had a couple of bad performances.

“However, after the opening four or five, I then started to get back to my best again and at the moment I am enjoying it more than ever.

“We are a more balanced side now and everyone is working a lot better together.

“This season I have played with four different centre halves, so it hasn’t been easy, but now Gary Bowles has come in and together we have formed a good partnership.”

The Magpies have lost just one of their last eight leagues games and Walker believes a top 10 finish is easily within their grasp.

He said: “We were a lot of people’s favourites to go down this season, particularly after the start we had, but we always knew we were playing well.

“If we can go on now and finish in the top half I think it would surprise a few but certainly not us.

“Weston-super-Mare are ninth and six points above us but we have three games in-hand on them, so if we can beat them tomorrow, we will be right on their shoulders and in a great position to go on and finish the season as a top-10 side.”