DORCHESTER Town boss Steve Thompson has confirmed absences of striker Richard Gillespie and winger Tom Blair from the 0-0 draw at Chesham were due to precautionary reasons.

Gillespie, 34, sustained tight hamstrings after making his debut during the 6-0 loss to Farnborough, while Blair was violently ill following the Boro defeat having left his sick bed to play.

Speaking to Echosport, Thompson revealed Gillespie’s unavailability was based on advice from a physio at Eastleigh, near the striker’s base in Southampton.

He said: “Tom was ill – I don’t know how he made Tuesday (against Farnborough), I didn’t think he was going to make it.

“He got out of his sick bed. He’d been in bed since Sunday night and got out to play and I thought he played very well, probably our best player on the night.

“It took a lot out of him, he was being sick in the toilet afterwards and he’s not recovered. He’s been off work all week and he’s still not well enough.

“I’m really glad we didn’t have a Tuesday game, which will give him a week to recover.

“Richard had very tight hamstrings after his first 60 minutes for a little while. He went into Eastleigh for some treatment.

“The physio there advised him against playing so that’s exactly what he did, he took that advice and hopefully he may be available for next Saturday.”

Asked if he was looking to bring any fresh additions into the squad during January, Thompson revealed he was surveying the player market.

He said: “You’re always looking, I do have other loans I can use this season.

“I’ll have to look at that situation now and see what we can do. That’s not something I can rule out, that’s for sure.”

Dorchester host Gillespie’s old club Poole Town on Saturday in Evo-Stik Southern Premier South action (3pm).