WEYMOUTH manager Mark Molesley wants his players to be “cool, calm and collected” when the Terras face bitter rivals Dorchester Town in their Evo-Stik Southern League Premier derby match at the Avenue Stadium today (3pm).
Weymouth go into the derby having snatched a 1-1 draw against Stratford Town with the final kick of the game through Jordan Rose, a result that places them eighth in the league.
Molesley is expecting a “blood and thunder” atmosphere at the Avenue and called for Weymouth to be “strong” during the game.
He told Echosport: “It’s about keeping the players focused, you’ve got to be mentally strong in games like that, you can’t get sucked in.
“It’s usually blood and thunder and the roars from the fans get the hairs on the back of neck standing up. But it’s about being cool, calm and collected and executing our gameplan.”
Terras’ boss Molesley admitted his side has “every reason to be confident” ahead of the clash, but believes form is irrelevant going into a derby game.
“It’s the game that everyone looks for first. It has a different feel to a league game, like a blood and thunder cup tie with a lot a fans. So you can read nothing into form, anything like that goes out of the window.
“We’re expecting a real tough test. Our boys are going to have to be mentally strong, physically strong and also be brave on the ball.
“We’ve got a squad of lads that work for each other and we’ve got every reason to be confident. We’re looking forward to the game.”
With Dorchester having lost 4-0 to Redditch United at the weekend, Molesley will be giving the Magpies his “full respect” and is wary of what he calls the “wounded animal”.
“A wounded animal is a dangerous animal and they’ve got nothing to lose. Full respect to them, we know exactly what we’re going to be getting down there with the atmosphere so we’ve got to be right on our game.
“It almost takes care of itself, the derby. If you’re not up for that game I don’t know what game you will be up for,” he said.
Photo: Idris Martin
