CHRISTCHURCH manager Ollie Cherrett has described Cherries teenager Ash Pope as “a young Marc Pugh”.

Winger Pope has netted four times in four starts for Priory since joining the Wessex One outfit on work experience from Cherries.

Pope, who has just turned 17, is set to feature when Christchurch visit neighbours Ringwood in an eagerly-awaited cross-Avon Causeway derby tonight (7.45pm).

Asked what type of player Pope was, Cherrett said: “A young Marc Pugh. He loves getting on the ball, his dribbling and crossing are brilliant and he is a serious goal threat. He also has good pace and has really taken to men’s football.

“We were thankful to Carl Fletcher and Stephen Purches at AFC Bournemouth for letting us bring in someone with his quality.

“We hope it is improving and helping him. He is playing as if he is enjoying his football and it is giving him a taste of men’s football.

“He has taken to it quickly and his quality has shone through in the past few games. He has great potential and, hopefully, this is a stepping stone for him.

“We try to play the right way and our pitch is excellent. I think it is working well and everyone is getting something out of it so, hopefully, we can help him along the way.”

Ringwood are the only team to have beaten Christchurch in the league in the past three months with goals from Peter Richmond-Cole and Matt Steer earning them a 2-1 win at Hurn Bridge in October.

It was Priory’s only league defeat in a 15-match run which has seen them register 12 wins. Ringwood, currently three places and seven points below fourth-placed Christchurch, are unbeaten in their past seven games, having won six.

Cherrett added: “We had a couple of players missing when we played them but they played extremely well against us.

“In Matt Steer, who came to us in the summer, they have a player with great quality. If you give him time and space, he will hurt you with his passing but his finishing is also excellent.

“We know their threats but all I am interested in is Christchurch. If we play anywhere like we know we can, hopefully, we should have enough to win the game. But you have to win the battle first and you have to have the desire so we will see.”

Also in Wessex One tonight, New Milton host Downton at Fawcett’s Field bidding to end a run of seven successive league defeats.

In Sydenhams Wessex Premier, Poppies entertain Bemerton, Hamworthy United host Brockenhurst and Lymington welcome Portland (all 7.45pm), while Bashley visit Newport (7.30pm).