Can Tivvy Make It Two for Joy Against the Magpies?
Match Preview
Tuesday October 27th
Tiverton Town v Dorchester Town
Kick off 7.30 pm
At The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium
At the weekend Tiverton in beating Larkhall, acquired an all-important three points and produced a display of character and quality that was urgently required, after two league losses that had seen them slip down the table. Teams are in close proximity above us and below us, so any of the variety of results could dramatically change our league position positively or negatively.
It’s hard to talk about Saturday’s victory without mentioning Josh Bissett ‘s hat-trick. Three excellent finishes and an excellent performance aside from the winger, full of clever movement and skilful footwork. Although the whole team worked their socks off in a reassuring display.
A further boost was Louis Jagger Cane’s return from the bench, and he will seek further minutes in this fixture. New Exeter loanee, defensive player Toby Alsop was also introduced as a late substitute and a fully fit Toby Stephens should soon be an option, with him steadily building towards a starting place, after a number of substitute appearances.
The involvement of Dan Koita has been growing in the warmups and he too will be pressing for a starting place soon. Though perhaps what is most important is for the Yellows' to find a consistency in performance and to be regularly clinical.
In the reverse fixture Dorchester were two goals to the good at the halfway point, but Tiverton came on strong in the last 25 minutes and a Josh Bissett goal on debut in the 78th minute had Dorchester hanging on in the end and relieved to get out of the Avenue Stadium with a win.
Glenn Howe's side have enjoyed their start to the season and have definitely thrown their hat in the ring, as far as promotion is concerned. Lying in third place, the ambition for an immediate return will not have been quelled by a surprising home loss to Slimbridge on Saturday.
Howes is a vastly experienced Southern League manager, having taken charge at Gosport, Totton, Black field & Langley and having a previous spell with the Magpies. Former Poole and Dorchester boss Tom Killick’s role as football director, gives the Dorset side plenty of combined backroom knowledge.
There appears to be plenty of goals in the visitors' squad. The acquisition of Ethan Taylor who had a good goal scoring record in the league above, seems to have been a shrewd one. Five seasons at Totton and another at his original club Gosport last term, signifies his striking abilities and 8 league goals already, proves this.
Winger Matty Burrows was a bit of a thorn in the side of the Yellows’ in his Wimborne days. The tricky Wideman or forward has additionally played for Weymouth earlier in his senior career. He returned to the Terras last season but was one of Howes’s first signings ahead of this term and Burrows has made his mark with 7 league goals and assists as well.
Jayden Nielsen who played for our director of football Lee Lashenko at Bristol Manor Farm at the beginning of his senior career is a very talented player, who plied his trade with Taunton in recent times. The wide player arrived in the off season and has established himself in the side.
Brother of professional player, full back Ben Purrington who is at the moment with Bristol Rovers, Tom Purrington is a gifted midfielder, who aside from a season with Tiverton, has also worn the colours of; Plymouth Parkway and Taunton. The silky, tall 26-year-old technician is another new recruit, who was a young pro with Argyle and was a loanee at the Magpies, during that time.
Twenty-Nine-year-old Defensive midfielder Matt Buse carries on the brother theme, with his sibling Will being a non-league goalkeeper with Ebbsfleet, after spells with the likes of; Bath, Taunton and Salisbury.
Buse has carved himself out a good non-league footballing career, having represented a host of top non-league clubs; Torquay, Wealdstone, Bath, Truro and Taunton have all been previous destinations for the deep lying schemer, who joined the Magpies in the 2024/25 campaign.
Ex Torquay academy product Jack Winsor is a cultured and energetic midfielder, who trialled in pre-season for Tivvy ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. He has good experience of this league and has played over 100 games for Bideford in it. The 22-year old's services have also been acquired by Tavistock and Willand.
Corby Moore, who got injured in the first few minutes of the game at the Avenue Stadium, continued his recovery as a named substitute at the weekend. The 32-year-old combative and creative midfielder was a big player at Dorset rivals Poole and has been pivotal for the Magpies.
Defender Ollie Haste who has been captaining the side in Moore’s absence, has played 127 times for the visitors in three and a bit season and the football playing full back or wingback who is Devon born, started at Yeovil and was a loanee at Truro and Barnstaple. A third loan spell at Dorchester evolved into a permanent move. He is 22.
Centre back Harvey Bertrand spent his formative years at Bournemouth. The versatile defender who can also operate to good effect as a full back is in a second stint with the Magpies after spending three seasons with them. The previous two campaigns were with Bashley.
Between the sticks is Ryan Hall. The Dorset side’s number one was developed at Aldershot and spent the first five years of his senior career there. Spending last term at Gosport, the gifted shot-stopper has amassed further senior experience with; Hayes & Yeading, Beaconsfield and Wimborne.
These are always tough games against the Magpies and the yellows have dealt mainly in draws and a few losses too, in recent times at home. You have to wind back to the 2022/23 season for the last time we defeated Dorchester. In February 2023, a Louis Morison brace and another goal from Jamie Richards, saw us win 3-0 on that day.
Under the lights there will be a chance to readdress the balance. A win would of course be a big feather in the cap for Asa Hall’s men, but if we keep believing as a team, we are capable enough and it is not beyond the realms of possibility.
Last season a side containing many of the players in this squad were victorious at the Avenue Stadium, the goals on that evening coming from Louis Jagger Cane(2) and Jacob Wellington. Louie Slough will be facing a former club and both sides will have a familiar look to each other. So get yourself down to the ground to support the lads.
