Tomorrow we resume our Southern League campaign after a fortnight's hiatus with the visit of Dorchester Town to Silver Jubilee Park.
Like ourselves, Dorchester ended up skirting rather closer to relegation than they would have liked, however the appointment in March of Callum Brooks as manager saw the Magpies hit a vein of form which not only dragged them clear of the drop zone, but finish one place above the Greens with a near identical record thanks to having a better goal difference by two goals.
The two sides have met on three previous occasions with Dorchester winning a 3rd Qualifying Round FA Cup tie in October 2014 1-0 - the game which ended Leon Smith's club record equalling scoring run - and then in the league last season, one of the best 45 minutes of the season saw us win 3-0 away from home almost a year ago before a fairly turgid goalless draw here at SJP in Aprili between the two sides.
This season, as Brooks looks to settle in a number of new faces the Magpies have found the going a little tough. One win - on opening day against winless Beaconsfield Town - and three points is all they currently have to show for their opening five league games, however they did progress through to the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win over Evesham Town on Sunday. Tom Bath, a summer signing from Tiverton Town, scored both goals to continue his prolific start to the campaign.
The Greens go into the game on the back of the penalty shoot-out win over Cockfosters on Tuesday night and should be able to welcome back one or two recent absentees. Francis Amartey, signed yesterday from Slough Town on-loan, should be involved as Jimmy Gray seeks to extend the unbeaten run into a fifth match in all competitions ahead of next week's FA Cup tie with Deeping Rangers.