Match Preview | Dorchester Town

Dorchester Town v Tiverton Town 

Tuesday 12^th August 7.45 pm Kick Off 

The Avenue Stadium 

Just under six years ago in December 2019, a decisive 5-1 victory at Dorchester took Tiverton to the top of the Southern League Premier South table, in the curtailed season ended by Covid. Expectations and reality are somewhat different in 2025. 

In all honesty it's close to a miracle that we have maintained our status in this division in the past two seasons. With that in mind and with inexperienced players at this level and the freshness of youth being at the heart of Tiverton's latest squad, a period of rebuilding should be acknowledged. 

There is unquestionable talent in this new crop of players and if the group can acquire the game mentality required to flourish at this level, an exciting campaign could be on the horizon. The necessary adjustments will take time, so it’s important that we as fans lend our support to the current management team and their side.   

The difference between this standard and levels below is facing a better quality of an opponent, having a more intense focus, patience, a clinical-ness, a continued self-belief and making rational and decisive decisions, in the moment. Easy isn’t it, haha. 

Our opening day loss shouldn’t be viewed as a cause for concern, but a small part of a growing process on Tuesday evening when we visit Dorchester at The Avenue Stadium. Our host’s achieved a goalless draw, away to league new boy’s Uxbridge. 

The recently departed Joe Parker should be in the Magpies’ line up and his heroic displays in the 2023/24 campaign are firmly placed in Tiverton folklore. He wasn’t as prolific last term but gave his all. 

It’s also a transitional time for the play off semi-finalists, having seen both Junior Ngalo and Olaf Koszela move up a level with Salisbury and Chippenham respectively. Although there isn’t a manager who knows this division better than Tom Killick. 

A trusted core of players, quite a few that he brought with him from his years at Poole remain; Will Spetch, Jack Dickson, Corby Moore, Luke Pardoe, Harry Hutchinson, Marcus Daws and new recruits  midfield schemer and ex EFL player Wes Fodgen and central defender Harvey Wright (signed from Wimborne) all played under Killick in his many seasons with the Dolphins. 

Tom Smith has also resurfaced at Dorchester after making a telling impact for Taunton in the last campaign, until he mysteriously didn't finish the season with the Peacocks. Safe houses were rumoured, but the gifted ex-Bath man is back playing football. 

This will be another baptism of fire for Asa Hall and Steve Orchard’s men against the passionately supported Dorset team, however there will be a determination to bounce back on Tuesday evening.