Dorchester Town, who visit Oxford United tomorrow, have one player in particular who will be itching to do well - goalkeeper Gareth Stewart, who was with the U's for a brief spell on trial in pre-season.

The experienced ex-Bournemouth keeper thought he stood a very good chance of being taken on, but in the end United went for Jake Cole and Ben Hinchliffe while Billy Turley was recovering from his shoulder op.

Fourth from bottom of Blue Square South, Dorchester feel they nevertheless stand a decent chance of beating Oxford at the Kassam Stadium.

Manager Shaun Brooks regards the tie as similar to one in the FA Trophy last season that pitted the Dorset side with Stevenage Borough, the then Trophy holders, and they won 2-1.

Brooks, an ex-Bournemouth, Leyton Orient and Crystal Palace player, worked as a youth-team coach at both Bournemouth and Southampton under Harry Redknapp, but this is his first shot at management.

As well as Stewart, Dorchester have experience in the shape of Kevin Hill, who was Torquay’s record appearance holder.

Hill, 32, has played in a variety of positions, but it's since he's moved back into defence that Dorchester have been very steady. They have conceded only 19 goals in 13 games, which isn't bad for a team near the bottom.

Another player to watch out for is midfielder Wes Fogden, an ex-Brighton & Hove Albion reserve and youth team player who is doing well following loan spells with the club.

In fact, Dorchester are very fortunate even to be in Blue Square South this season.

Taken over by property developer Eddie Mitchell, who brought in Brooks, the club struggled last season and finished in the relegation zone, but were granted a reprieve from the drop when Nuneaton Borough went into liquidation.

The 1-0 win over Bishop's Stortford in the fourth qualifying round represented the first time they have reached the first round for eight years. Back in 2000, they went to Wigan Athletic, and won 3-1.

The time before that, they went to the Manor Ground to face Oxford and lost 9-1 on an afternoon when even Steve Wood scored a brace for the U's.

But Dorchester struggled to get 12 fit players on the team bus that afternoon.

United manager Darren Patterson had them watched last Saturday when Dorchester were taking on familiar opponents - Bishop's Stortford again, this time in the league, and this time away. And they won 2-0 with a Ryan Moss double, in a one-sided encounter, which should act as a warning to the U’s.