DARTMOUTH are boosted by two players to see them through what could be a hectic run-in, starting with a home clash against Tavistock on Saturday (3pm), writes Andy Phillips.

Darts manager Lance Worthington has added former boss James Bennellick and Torquay United youth prospect Oliver Woolland to his squad – with both intended to provide cover until the end of the season.

Worthington said that former Dartmouth manager Bennellick has been playing in Somerset and would provide an 'old head' in central midfield. Worthington was Bennellick's assistant for three years at Longcross.

Paignton College student Woolland, meanwhile, is a defensive player whose first priority will remain his role at South Devon League outfit Riviera Spurs.

But with Dartmouth now out of action for over a fortnight, Worthington said Woolland's signature could become valuable if the fixtures start to pile up at the end of the season.

He said: "I've heard good reports of him from the college, and for Torquay United to take him on through their youth policy shows that there must be something about him.

"The games are racking up for us, so come the end of the season we could be playing three times a week. It's nice to have cover, as you are bound to get a few injuries over that time."

The signings make up for the failed signing of another striker, an unnamed player who Worthington said had simply 'changed his mind' and opted to stay with their current club.

But the enforced break also means that midfielder John Young – who fractured his larynx – could be back in training this week, and available for Saturday.

Worthington added: "They said four to six weeks for him to be out, and it will be four weeks by the time this weekend rolls around, so we're hoping that he will be back."

BUCKLAND ATHLETIC will be hoping to stake their promotion claim when they travel to leaders Launceston (3pm).

Bucks are currently fourth in the Premier Division table, eight points behind the Clarets.

But Antony Lynch's side still have SEVEN games in hand on their opponents this weekend, meaning they could easily overtake them by the end of the season.

With a top-two finish required for Buckland's promotion to the Western League, only Bodmin Town have a better record based on the number of games played.

The only potential banana skin remaining is the amount of fixtures they will have to catch up on by the end of the season - not helped by the postponement of every Premier Division fixture last weekend.

BOVEY TRACEY manager Ellis Laight admits his efforts to sign players have come at exactly the wrong time this season.

Laight's side are away to Ivybridge Town this Saturday (3pm), a crucial test of their strength with around a dozen games left to play.

The former Torquay United, Taunton Town and Bideford player said he has been in contact with his old clubs in an effort to find players, after an exodus of faces from Mill Marsh Park.

But with so few games remaining, Laight said many of the players he was hoping to capture have opted to stay put until the end of the season.

"I've spoken to a few players, but they are happy where they are," admitted Laight.

"It's a very difficult time to sign players – we won't get into a relegation fight at this stage, as there are sides worse than us – but players want to be enjoying their football with this many games to go.

"But there are certainly a couple of players I'm looking at who would strengthen the side."

Laight said he had identified the clash against third-from-bottom Ivybridge as a game his side should be winning – but admitted he also expected a result from their match against Penzance a fortnight ago, which they lost 6-0.

"They (Ivybridge) are in a similar position to us, so they are a team we're looking to try and get a result from," added Laight.

"I was hoping to do that at Penzance but the way the game went it spiralled out of our control."