A tough test awaits the Acorns on Saturday, as we head to Dorset for our Southern League Div One South clash with joint league leaders, Dorchester Town.
The Acorns will be hoping for a quick response and a turn of fortune following Tuesday night’s defeat at Tiverton Town and seeing just one win in our last five games.
But Dorchester will be casting eyes elsewhere on Saturday, as they have the chance to climb to the top of the league if Swindon Supermarine drop points away to Willand Rovers.
Ahead of our trip to the Avenue Stadium, here is everything you need to know about the Magpies.
THE OPPOSITION – DORCHESTER TOWN
STADIUM – The Avenue Stadium
NICKNAME – The Magpies
FOUNDED – 1880
MANAGER – Glenn Howes
LEAGUE POSITION – 2nd
FORM GUIDE – W-L-W-W-W
HITTING THEIR STRIDE
After suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat to rivals Weymouth on the opening day of the season, the Magpies have been flying in the league with that being their only defeat thus far.
The Magpies have played out eight league games picking up seven straight wins since losing that opening fixture on the Dorset coast.
Dorchester triumphed over current early season title rivals Supermarine, last Saturday, when they earned a narrow 1-0 victory at the Imagine Cruising Stadium courtesy of an Ilya Ihnatenko 77th minute strike.
The Magpies have notched up 17 goals in their opening eight league fixtures and, at home, have suffered just one defeat during six games in all competitions.
That single home defeat came against National League North highflyers, Oxford City, during their FA Cup third qualifying round tie.
IN THE DUGOUT – GLENN HOWES
A former Magpie who served as a midfielder, Glenn Howes is currently serving his second spell as Dorchester manager.
Howes departed the club in May 2025 to take the helm at Gosport Borough before returning to the Magpies less than a year later, in May 2026.
Howes has experience at this level of football, having managed AFC Totton during their promotion winning season from the Div One South, but left Totton midway through that campaign to step into the Magpies dugout.
PLAYER TO WATCH – ETHAN TAYLOR
In a free scoring Magpies side, Ethan Taylor has had a helping hand in five of the clubs 17 league goals, so far.
Taylor has bagged himself three goals in his last three games, including a brace against Bideford AFC.
The attacker joined in the summer following spells with AFC Totton and Gosport Borough.
RECENT RESULTS
03.10.26 – Swindon Supermarine 0-1 Dorchester Town (Southern League Div One South)
29.09.26 – Bideford AFC 1-3 Dorchester Town (Southern League Div One South)
26.09.26 – Dorchester Town 4-1 Exmouth Town (Southern League Div One South)
19.09.26 – Dorchester Town 0-2 Oxford City (FA Cup)
15.09.26 – Dorchester Town 2-1 Tiverton Town (Southern League Div One South)
