Pitching In Southern League, Premier Division South
Dorchester Town v Tiverton Town
Saturday, December 21. 3pm . The Avenue
IT is impossible to not mention our earlier encounters with the Magpies during this campaign, although we have yet to lose to In two games of football with our Dorset opponents.
A draw was pretty much a fair conclusion to the league game at the Ian Moorcroft Stadium, back in August; the penalty shoot-out loss in the Isuzu FA Trophy followed a performance that should have seen us through without the need for penalty kicks.
The last time we faced Dorchester at the Avenue Stadium, despite a numerical advantage after an early sending-off for the Magpies’ Jack Dickson, we were unable to capitalise and lost 2-1 with Will Fletcher’s penalty meaning we left Dorset empty handed.
In spite of being a hugely competitive force and going seven games unbeaten, Tom Killick’s men are struggling at the moment to shake off a draw specialist tag - six of the seven matches ending all square – and, along with Bracknell, they have drawn more games than any of the other sides in the division.
That number is ten, but they are fifth in the table at the moment. Killick transformed their season after being in the relegation places last term and they finished the 2023-24 season as strongly as anyone.
The former Poole manager added well to his ranks then and managed to retain a vast amount of players from that squad for this season’s campaign.
Olaf Koszela is the Magpies’ leading scorer, with ten goals, and the striker who is fondly remembered at Ladysmead is becoming a consistent goal-getter at this level. The former Torquay youngster is starting to realise his potential.
There is no shortage of attacking threat, with Shaquille Gwengwe, Luke Pardoe and Wayne Robinson also at the manager’s disposal, and Gwengwe, although a little quiet on the goal front so far, will, through his impressive tally last term, command respect.
In the midfield areas, the dangerous schemer Wes Fogden is hugely creative. Joining his former manager from Poole this season, like a healthy contingent of players did during last season, Fodgen is an ex pro with Brighton and then, significantly, with Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Yeovil. In the veteran category now, he still has plenty to offer.
The Magpies’ midfield also boasts the highly influential Corby Moore. The 31-year-old was a product of Southampton’s Academies and played professionally for Forest Green.
Matt Buse will be very familiar to Rob Dray from his time in the Taunton dugout. The former Peacock has also played higher up the pyramid with Torquay, Weymouth, Truro and Bath City, bringing further knowhow and experience to the hosts.
Junior N’galo’s performances are often pivotal for the Magpies and the strong-running powerful central midfielder is a dominant figure. Tom Bragg, 22, has established himself as part of Dorchester’s defensive unit, having played in the National League system for Eastleigh and Salisbury.
Ollie Haste has similar credentials and is another to heavily feature in the Magpies’ backline. His cv includes Yeovil and Truro. Jack Dickson, formerly of Poole, has been a strong performer at this level for many a season, and talented goalkeeper Gerard Benfield similarly has played for Weymouth, Salisbury and Wimborne.
Tiverton are in good form and can count themselves a little unfortunate to not get anything from last weekend’s game against promotion-chasing Totton.
Gabe Billington will be available to join his new team-mates, arriving on loan from Exeter City, and the squad looks competitive at the moment. Nat Jarvis should also be available for selection after a prior engagement meant he was absent last time out.
It is never easy to predict games in this division as most sides are capable of beating each other. One thing is for certain, though, and that is that the Yellows will be doing all they can to get some points having slipped back into the drop zone.
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