The Swans, bottom of the table, Dorchester, third in the table and on a ten game winning streak ('Can they make it 11 today?' The Southern League's Social Media teased), but the Swans came into The Avenue Stadium and shocked the hosts with a well deserved victory.

The only previous comparable Southern League result we could find was the astonishing 3-0 victory at then top of the table Totton back in September 2021. 

The Swans started the game playing into a howling gale and heavy rain, and while Theo Lynden and Olly Sully had early efforts that didn't really trouble Dorchester Keeper Ryan Hall, Jayden Neilsen, Matthew Burrows and Ieuan Turner all went close early on for the hosts. 

On twenty minutes the game changed - Joe Stokes' lofted free kick evaded everyone inrushing in the Dorchester box, until it was tapped home at the far post by Luke Bence. After an agonising wait where it appeared as if an offside flag might rule the goal out, Referee Nicholas Whittington pointed to the centre circle and the Swans were ahead. 

Theo Browne was just off target a couple of minutes later, and you could feel a sense of belief start to flow through the team. 

The home still side still looked dangerous though, and Callum Godfrey made a superb stop on the half hour to prevent an equaliser from Ethan Taylor's shot, but that game had developed into a very even battle, which ended at the break with the Swans still a goal to the good. 

With the Swans hoping to play with the wind in the second period, of course, it lessened off, and Olly Sully was just off target with their best early effort five minutes into the second half. 

Just before the hour mark, Dorchester had a loud appeal for a penalty turned down after Neilsen went down rather easily in the box, and the resulting scramble saw a goal bound header cleared off the line by Bence. 

The Swans were not to be deterred though, and a minute later, Stokes took possession in midfield and fed Sully. He drove forward and slipped the ball to Casey Collins. Collins cut in, beat his man and drilled the ball past Hall to double the visitors' lead. 

Despite there being 30-odd minutes left, Dorchester only occasionally exerted pressure on the Swans goal in the remainder of the game, the final ten minutes bringing another two superb Godfrey stops from Taylor and then Collins, but the Swans held on to record a victory that will go down in their folklore and was well celebrated by a small but vociferous set of fans, families and officials who had made the trip on the final whistle. 

The Swans are back at Thornhill Park on Wednesday (28th October, 7.45pm) when they entertain Worcester Raiders. 

The Under 18s travel to Gloucester City for a League Encounter on Monday (26th October, 7.30pm)

Team: Godfrey, Holmes (Soule 75), Moore (Bifulco 67), Kang, Bence, Giles, Sully, Lynden, Browne (Cross 90+3), Stokes, Collins

Goals: Bence 19, Collins 60

Supporters Club Man of the Match: Jack Holmes