WITH just a week to go before the start of the Southern Premier League season, Magpies’ striker Dan Cann is confident that he and his team-mates are moving in the right direction.

Dorchester have two warm-up games left – away to AFC Totton today (3pm) and at home to Yeovil on Monday (7.30pm) – to fine tune their match fitness ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Arlesey Town.

After a difficult start to their pre-season schedule, Dorchester have bounced back with a couple of positive performances against lower league opposition.

And Cann, who scored the first goals of his second spell with the club against Willand Rovers, feels the Magpies are now beginning to gel, particularly the bond between him and fellow new signings Ben Joyce and Dan Smith.

“We are all moving in the right direction,” he said.

“We’re really beginning to move the ball well and look good going forward.

“If we keep scoring goals and tighten up at the back then we’ll do well.

“More than anything, me, Ben Joyce and Dan Smith are really starting to gel.

“Now I’ve got those two lads around me things are starting to click and we are creating chances.”

Cann admitted to feeling relieved after finding the net last weekend.

He went on to add: “We’ve had some hard games and I hadn’t had that many chances to score before the Willand game.

“It was good to get on the scoresheet and it’s always a relief when you get your first goal after moving to a new club.

“I never set myself targets. I normally get around 15 a season but I look to set up twice as many.”

Dorchester’s reserves won their second friendly encounter, away to Merley Cobham Sports, 2-1 with first-half goals from Luke Woodland and Kieran Parrett.

Neil Mackie’s team are now due to go to Parley Sports on August 12 before their league campaign gets underway at home to AFC Totton on August 27.

*The club’s annual Patrons Draw took place at the Avenue and first out of the hat, winning a Main Stand sponsorship package, was Qwikfast.

Other prizes were as follows; reserve team shirt sponsor – Harvey Barns Curtains and Blinds; Bypass Terrace sponsor – The Trinity Club; Family Area sponsor – Blacknoll Ltd; Railway Terrace sponsor: Horse With The Red Umbrella; dug out sponsor: P&L Rees G R P Specialist Ltd