BOURNEMOUTH Poppies boss James Wood claimed Hamworthy United were "very fortunate" to beat his side in their previous meeting as the teams prepare for battle at Victoria Park.

Poppies lost 2-1 when the Wessex Premier Division rivals met in August at the County Ground but Wood is "confident" of a different result tomorrow (3pm).

He said: "We'll focus on what we do well and if we do that I'm confident we can get three points.

"It will be a hard game, they're very hard to beat, they work hard and are quite physical."

The match holds no fears for Wood, despite his team being beaten by their Dorset rivals for the first time in seven Wessex League meetings earlier this season.

He said: "If you speak to people at Hamworthy they'll say they were very fortunate to come out with a win.

"We played very well but couldn't get the final touches."

Striker Jack Swann moved from Poppies to join Phil Simkin's side in the summer and he will line up against his former club for the first time, having missed the previous meeting because of injury.

Simkin thinks Swann will be eager to put one over on his old colleagues.

"He'll be looking to do well there," said the Hammers boss.

"They'll know that he's a threat, whether they pick him out as a main threat I don't know. But they know what he can do.

"I'm looking for him to do well throughout the season and I think he'll score a lot of goals."

Simkin expects nothing less than a "very difficult game".

He added: "We've already beaten them this year so they know they've got a game on their hands.

"We'll do what we always do - set our stall out and give it our best shot."

Nathan Walker, who scored the opening goal when the teams last met, will serve a one-match ban, while Steve Legg returns from suspension.

Poppies: (from) Kearn, McGrath, Dibba, Cherrett, Lucas, Crow, Smith, White, Sanderson, Dancer, Phillips, Barnes, Jeffes, C Toy, M Toy, Hancox.

Hamworthy United: (from) Peters, Gilbert, Williams, Horlock, Grimason, Hubbard, Legg, Dovell, Jackson, Swann, Byerley, Mutch, Chivers, Middleton, Connet, Baguley.

JY SEEKS VICTORY

LOWLY Ringwood Town will be aiming to continue their improvement under new boss Jy Taylor when they host mid-table outfit Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

A win could lift Taylor's side out of the bottom three.

  • Paul Reeves returns to the Verwood Town squad for their Division One home match against East Cowes Victoria (3pm).

Verwood Town: (from) Willis, Freeman, Yerby, Homer, Arnold, Faulkner, Elysee, King, Giles, Reeves, Lynch, Dyer, Goodall, Beverley.

  • Hamworthy Recreation travel to Bridport in the Dorset Premier League (3pm).