DORCHESTER Town are targeting their first league win over Poole Town for nearly four years when the Magpies visit the Black Gold Stadium on Boxing Day (1pm).

Not since Ben Seymour’s winner in January 2019 have Dorchester beaten the Dolphins, although the Magpies have made a habit of defeating bogey teams this year.

Salisbury, Truro, Met Police and Beaconsfield have all been despatched in the past eight months.

Dorchester’s revival in 2022/23 sees them handily placed in sixth, while Poole occupy fourth just three points ahead. Positions two to five make the play-offs.

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And the Magpies’ barren runs against certain sides in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South have made for extra motivation.

First-team coach Brian Churchill told Echosport: “It’s a little bit of a standing joke in the changing room before games.

“The last thing that’s said is the stats about the other teams. For Met Police and Truro I said we haven’t beat these for ages. They all laugh at me just before they go out.

“If I can give them a stat that we haven’t beaten Poole for (almost four) years that will be a good prompt for them to try and get a result.”

For boss Glenn Howes and James Wood, both at Poole as players, there is extra impetus.

Wood said: “It’s always a fixture me and Glenn look to with our affiliation with Poole, obviously I’ve coached there as well.

“I’ve got a lot of friends there and there are a lot of good people, a lot I know very well.

“It’s always a game we look forward to and, again, it’s another top side. Poole aren’t going anywhere and they’re going to be there or thereabouts.

“They’re getting stronger all the time. It’s going to be another really difficult game.”

Shaq Gwengwe (ankle) has trained and will be fit, but Jordan Ngalo (hamstring) misses out. Callum Buckley should return from illness.