IT WILL be a strange feeling for Ashley James’ Dorchester Sports side as they head to the Avenue to do battle with Dorchester Town Reserves in the Dorset Senior Trophy tomorrow (2.30pm).

Sports, who agreed to use the facilities at the Magpies’ home in the summer with their promotion to the Dorset Premier League, have been drawn as the away side in the first round trophy tie – so will use the away dressing room on the afternoon.

But despite what will be unfamiliar surroundings ahead of the contest in preparation, boss James is hopeful of a cracking cup tie on it.

He told Echosport: “We are looking forward to it but I think we are going to be in the away dressing room.

“We will probably walk in

the home one and get chucked out!

“We played them twice in pre-season (drawing 0-0 and winning 2-1), we know about them and they know about us so it’s going to be a great game.

“They are playing well – we beat them 4-0 in the cup last year but I think it’s going to be a lot different this year, it’s going to be a tough game.”

He added: “We want a decent cup run this year, we were unlucky last year because we lost in the quarter-final to Bridport Reserves and we gave it everything down there.

“Hopefully this year we can win a few games and see where it takes us – it’s nice to have something different coming away from the league.”

The Magpies’ reserves go into the contest in good form having defeated Wimborne Town Reserves 2-1 in the John Stimpson Memorial Shield on Wednesday night, thanks to a brace from Billy Mitchell.

Elsewhere in the Trophy, Balti Sports, who have been in impressive form in the Dorset Premier League, face a trip to Hamworthy Recreation.

Chickerell United, who won the competition in 2015 when they beat Bridport Reserves on penalties, are looking to progress after what has been a difficult start in the league.

Boss Steve Coward said: “Whether Poole have strengthened up a little bit from the first game of the season when we played them (a 5-1 win for the Chickens) you don’t know. We will see what happens.”