PHIL Simkin hopes to see some of Exeter City’s young guns back at the Avenue Stadium this coming season – but in a county town shirt.

Having last season aided the development of Grecian striker Tom Nichols, who bagged nine goals in a dozen appearances for Dorchester Town, the Magpies are keen to benefit from loaning more of City’s fledgling stars.

And it seems the Npower League Two outfit, who ran out 4-0 winners in Tuesday night’s friendly at the Avenue, hold a similar view.

Simkin said: “It appears Exeter are prepared to help us out again next season.

“They have helped us out in the past and they may do the same in the future, which would be great.”

Reflecting on his side’s first outing of pre-season, the county town chief added: “Overall we had a fair share of possession, we just didn’t break them down and create too much.

“But you can’t get a better training session than that. We got some really good match fitness and I learned an awful lot – more than if we had won 4-0.

“Nobody involved in competitive sport wants to lose but I’ve been around long enough to accept the fact that they were better than us and are in full-time training.

“They have some excellent young players and I hope they have a good season. People also need to remember that it was our first game.

“When Ben Watson went off we lost our focal point. His calves were a bit tight and I don’t want to push him too far at this stage. We need him tip-top for August 18.”

Simkin also gave run-outs to a handful of trialists – ex-AFC Bournemouth midfielder Elliot Ward, former Bristol Rovers centre-half Charlie Clough, ex-Grecian full-back Josh Concanen and former Swansea City defender Frazer Clark.

Assessing the quartet’s displays, the Magpies’ manager said: “I have been pleased with the way they have trained and how they applied themselves against Exeter.

“But it’s always difficult for trialists as they are not used to the surroundings or the people they are playing with.

“It’s hard work for them but I was pleased with their efforts and we will look at them again, although it may not happen tomorrow.”

Dorchester continue their pre-season programme with tomorrow night’s visit of Gus Poyet’s Brighton (7.45pm).

* The Magpies Summer Soccer School, in association with Dorchester Town FC, will be running every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the school summer holidays.

The course will run from Tuesday, July 31 to Thursday, August 23 (10am-2pm) at Dorchester Middle School, costing £10 per day.

The school will be led by first-team assistant-manager Stuart Heath with a number of county town players also present to meet and coach the players.

For more information, contact 07967228301 or visit the club’s main website at dorchestertownfc.co.uk