DORCHESTER Town boss Glenn Howes insists there is no unfinished business for the Magpies against Yate Town at the Avenue Stadium this afternoon (3pm).

Howes’ men tackle the Bluebells in their first game of 2023 almost exactly one year on from a controversial 2-1 defeat in Gloucestershire last year.

Dorchester felt Yate’s two goals that day were debatable, believing a penalty and offside calls went against them.

But Howes has adopted a water-under-the-bridge response to that match and pointed to differing fortunes between the clubs since.

While Yate were play-off contenders and Dorchester relegation battlers in 2021/22, their roles have completely reversed this season.

READ MORE: Dorchester successful is Kieran Douglas red card appeal

Howes told Echosport: “So much has changed, they’ve changed their manager, their players.

“We’ve gone through a transition as a team in terms of what we look like in comparison to last year.

“I think it will be a completely different game, even when we went up there at the beginning of the season, which was 0-0.

“We need to get a performance out of the lads, the management team, the club.

“It’s a new year and we always want to get off to a good start. Playing at home in front of our own supporters gives us that opportunity for sure.”

With Dorchester in ninth and well in the mix for the Pitching In Southern League Premier South play-offs, Howes feels the club has turned over a new leaf.

“It does feel like it’s a new era for the club,” he admitted.

“It takes a huge amount of time and patience. It certainly won’t happen overnight for the club. We have to manage our resources, manage them within the system of the club, our project.

“There’s no quick and instant fix to us. However, if we win more games than we lose then it will be a successful season for us.

“The league is as tight as ever. You can, in two or three fixtures, fall down that league very quickly.

“It’s imperative that we bounce back (in front of) our own supporters.

“It’s important we bounce back after the disappointing game against Poole.”

The fixture is Alex Moyse’s final match on loan from Torquay, although talks are at an advanced stage to extend the midfielder’s stay at the Avenue.

Jordan Ngalo (hamstring) is likely to miss out, while skipper Callum Buckley, Tiago Sa and Harvey-Joe Bertrand (all ill) will be monitored.

Kieran Douglas is available after having his red card during the 3-0 loss at Poole rescinded.