DORCHESTER Town and striker Ben Joyce are to part company, county town boss Graham Kemp revealed last night.

The former Weymouth forward, brought to the Avenue by Phil Simkin in the summer, is due to leave the Magpies before the end of the week.

Joyce’s Dorchester career never really got off the ground and injuries also saw him miss a number of matches.

Kemp’s search for a replacement has seen the Magpies’ chief put in a seven-day approach for Frome Town centre-forward Ben Thomson.

Speaking at last night’s fans’ forum, Kemp said Joyce’s departure was down to “personal reasons”.

He added: “Ben and the club are parting company.

“It’s very amicable and Ben has been very honourable in the way he has behaved.

“I wish him all the best for the future.

“It was a shame it didn’t quite work out for him at Dorchester.

“He was coming from Ply-mouth and that didn’t make it easy for him, either for training or on match days.”

Joyce scored just two league goals during his spell at the Avenue, though one of those was the winner against Hungerford in September.