Wimborne Town return to action this weekend, travelling to the Avenue Stadium to take on local rivals Dorchester Town in the Magpie Derby.
The visitors come into this one after a 4-1 home victory against Yate Town on Tuesday.
The Magpies Dorch have started the season in unconvincing fashion, from a playoff spot last season to 19th and in the relegation zone, they will be scratching their heads to the start they have made.
With only nine points from eleven games, they need to turn the ship around quickly if they are to stop it from sinking into the tier below.
The visitors, also nicknamed the Magpies, have started the season in style, collecting 18 points from 11 games.
A vast contrast to their Dorset rivals.
Wimborne Town currently sit in 4th place and have one of the best defence records in the league this year, conceding only 12 goals, as well as being high up the pecking order in goalscoring statistics too.
They have players in form who are competing for similar positions in the squad, which will give manager Tim Sills a good problem to have.
Both wingers Lewis Williams and Max Bustamante have started the season in exceptional style, as well as the difficult decision for the starting striker option with both Will Fletcher and Joe Smith scoring frequently.
Dorch forward Joe Parker, alongside goalscoring midfielder Tom Smith, will cause Wimborne a problem this weekend, and it will be hard to keep them both quiet for the full 90.
Smith has excelled at the start of this season with his notable highlight of a hattrick against AFC Bideford in the FA Trophy.
In the last five games, Dorchester have won two, drawn one, and lost two.
On Tuesday, they were defeated 2-0 by Poole Town, so will be driven to make sure they don’t lose two derbies in less than a week.
Wimborne, despite the difference in league position, come into this one with an identical record in the last five to their rivals.
Before the victory against Yate in the week, they were defeated by Walton and Hersham who currently lead the table.
The battle of the Magpies will be an interesting encounter.
Two sides with a lot to prove in a local derby always makes for an interesting matchup. With Wimborne trying to remain in the playoffs, and Dorchester trying to get their season back on track, the three points up for grabs here could make all the difference when the season ends in April.
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