Just a: 5 minute read
The curtain has come down on the 65s Dorset Walking Football League season, and it was a day of mixed emotions at the County Ground as Dexter Sports secured a strong third-place finish.
While the ultimate prize may have eluded them this time, the squad ended the campaign with their heads held high, proving they remain one of the most competitive outfits in the division.
Matchday Info
Tournament Details
🏅 65s League Round Six
🗓️ 22 April 2026
🏟️ Littledown Centre, Bournemouth
Matchday Squad – Round 6
David Bacall 🧤🧢 | Andy Wilson | Clive Robinson | Ed Perkins | Paul Kybert | Peter Cherryman | Mark Ciano | Andy Madden | Terry Benson | Merv Young
DSWFC Tournament Report
DSWFC Tournament Review
Match Results: The Final Push
The final round of fixtures saw Dexter Sports put in a shift that perfectly encapsulated their season: resilience, tactical discipline, and clinical finishing.
The 3-0 victory over Dorchester provided the perfect finale, ensuring the team finished on a positive note. Merv Young continued his fine form with three goals across the day, while Steve Bailey marked a successful introduction to the squad with a goal in the final match.
The Season Wrap: Consistency at the Top
Dexter Sports finished the campaign with 50 points from 24 games, sitting just two points adrift of Bournemouth Reds and seven behind the champions, Eastleigh. Having maintained a top-three presence in the first two seasons, the foundation for a title charge is clearly in place.
Despite some mid-season injury woes, the squad’s depth shone through. The general consensus among the players is one of optimism, with Peter Kane and Peter Cherryman both noting that an injury-free run next year could be the missing piece of the championship puzzle.
A Word of Thanks
The camaraderie within the 60s squad remains their greatest asset. Following the final whistle, several players were quick to praise the effort of the entire team and the dedication of the backroom support.
“A big thanks to Terry for managing this season and the refreshments each time. Well done to all in the squad; it’s been great to take part and a positive finish.”
Mark Ciano, DSWFC 65s player
“Thanks for making me feel welcome today, lads. Great effort from everyone – look forward to next season now.”
Steve Bailey, DSWFC 65s player on his debut
“Well done to the whole squad! A special thanks to Terry for the excellent coaching and to Glen, Andy W, and Steve F for the support from the sidelines today.”
Merv Young, DSWFC 65s player
Looking Ahead
While the league season is over, the focus now shifts to the League Cup and refining tactics during Wednesday morning training sessions. With the gap to the top closing, the squad is already looking “onwards and upwards” toward the next campaign.
Well done to the whole Dexter Sports squad on another fantastic season!
Dexter’s Results
| Opponents | Score | Scorers |
| Weymouth Blues | 4-2 | Merv Young (x2), Ed Perkins, Peter Kane |
| Weymouth Clarets | 0-0 | |
| Bournemouth Reds | 0-2 | |
| Dorchester | 3-0 | Merv Young, Peter Kane, Steve Bailey |
DSWFC Season Player Stats
With the league season complete, we can celebrate some of the individual achievements:
- DSWFC 65s were represented by 15 different players
- Two players managed a 100% attendance record: well done Dave Bacall and Peter Cherryman
- Top scorer with 11 goals was Merv Young, who also celebrated his 75th birthday during the season!
- Four players made their DSWFC 65s debuts: Steve Bailey, Glen Goodwin, Karl Shaw and Andy Wilson
Player Season Stats
Here you can see the DSWFC 65s tournament appearances and goals for the season to date.
| Player | Tournaments | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Bacall, Dave | 6 | – |
| Bailey, Steve | 1 | 1 |
| Cherryman, Peter | 6 | 0 |
| Ciano, Mark | 3 | 0 |
| Perkins, Ed | 3 | 1 |
| Goodwin, Glen | 4 | 3 |
| Kane, Peter | 4 | 7 |
| Kybert, Paul | 4 | 0 |
| Madden, Andy | 4 | 2 |
| Martin, Jonathan | 3 | 0 |
| Perkins, Ed | 3 | 3 |
| Robinson, Clive | 5 | 0 |
| Shaw, Karl | 1 | 0 |
| Wilson, Andy | 4 | 5 |
| Young, Merv | 5 | 11 |
Dorset Walking Football League Over 65s: Season Two Summary
The second season of the Dorset Walking Football League 65s saw a structural overhaul, moving from a six-team division playing 30 matches to a seven-team format playing 24 matches each. This change was largely driven by a restructuring of the Weymouth squad, who entered two separate teams: the Clarets and the Blues.
Eastleigh successfully defended their league title, mirroring their inaugural season dominance by losing only a single match. However, the title race was far tighter this time around; while Eastleigh easily cruised to the championship in year one with a 14-point cushion, the second season saw a fiercely competitive top three, with runners-up Bournemouth Reds (52 points) and third-place Dexter Sports (50 points) finishing within striking distance of Eastleigh’s 57 points.
While the top three teams remained identical in rank to the first season, their underlying performances shifted dramatically. Dexter Sports enjoyed a massive resurgence, pivoting from a negative goal difference (-1) in the first season to a stellar +19$ in their second campaign
In the bottom half of the table, Dorchester and Bournemouth Whites showed noticeable improvement, shaking off their previous struggles to secure 15 and 11 points, respectively. Conversely, the split of the Weymouth contingent yielded entirely opposite fortunes. Weymouth Clarets enjoyed an outstanding debut by finishing fourth with 44 points and a +20 goal difference, while Weymouth Blues endured a gruelling, winless campaign, propping up the table with just 6 points from 6 draws.
You can take a look at the league tables for full details and historical results.
Future dates
The next date on the 65s fixture list is 20 May, when we’ll be playing in the League Cup. This years tournament is scheduled to be played at the Littledown Centre, Bournemouth, with kick-off at 11:30am. Check with your club nearer the time before making the journey though!
Get in touch
The physical and mental health benefits of regular exercise are well known. If you’re interested in playing football in a friendly, safety first environment, get in touch with Dexter Sports Walking Football Club now…
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One Response
Concise and interesting write-up. Minor point… I’m down in the Player Stats twice. (The second mention is the accurate one.)