The Dorset Walking Football League 50s campaign kicked off in spectacular style, as our squads travelled to Redlands in Weymouth for the highly anticipated opening round of the 2026/27 season. The footballing gods certainly smiled on us, delivering perfect sunny weather and a pristine, newly laid surface that set the stage for an action-packed afternoon of walking football.
It was a true club-wide effort as Dexter Sports Storm and Thunder faced off against tough regional opposition in Bournemouth and Weymouth, before wrapping up the day with a thrilling head-to-head club derby. Despite both squads facing an unprecedented pre-tournament availability crisis due to holidays and a brutal string of injuries, the resilience, team spirit, and sheer quality on display across both teams showed exactly what Dexter Sports is all about.
Matchday Info
🏆 50s League Round One, 2026/27
📆 Sunday 4 October 2026, 13:00
📍 Redlands, Weymouth
Dexters Storm
Billy Bulloch 🧤
Darren Snell 🧢
Chris Cockwell
Dave Lodge
Gary Craig
Luke Hitchen
Andy Gosling
Dexters Thunder
Andy Hatchard 🧤🧢
Mark Sanderson
Simon Cooke
Ali Rogers
Paul “Jock” Main
Lee Welch
Mike Excell (from Storm)
DSWFC Tournament Report
Dexters Storm: Setting the Standard
Matchday events provided by Dave Lodge
While the sun shone brightly on the pristine new surface at Redlands, Dexter Sports Storm faced their own pre-tournament hurdle with an availability crisis that left them with just eight players to navigate the opening round. Demonstrating the true unity of the club, the squad even loaned out a player to ensure their clubmates in Thunder could field a team, leaving Storm with an incredibly thin bench for a demanding three-match schedule.
Despite the lack of numbers and the burning afternoon heat, the team showed immense tactical discipline, sharp passing, and a ruthless attacking edge right from the opening whistle as they took on Bournemouth, Compton, and Dexters Thunder.
📰 Storm review
Storm 1-2 Bournemouth
Storm kicked off the Dorset Walking Football League campaign with a highly competitive opening fixture against a sharp Bournemouth side. Bournemouth caught us cold with an early goal following some excellent movement on their part, perhaps catching us starting a bit slowly.
However, the squad shook off the slow start and picked up the tempo well, settling into a great passing rhythm. The pressure paid off just before the break when Dave Lodge struck a shot that the Bournemouth goalkeeper couldn’t handle, carrying it over the line to ensure we went in at half-time level at 1-1.
We carried that excellent movement into the second half but were caught out on a swift counter-attack, allowing Bournemouth to regain the lead at 2-1. The game took a dramatic turn late on when a Bournemouth player received a blue card and was sent to the sin bin, giving us a fantastic opportunity to find an equaliser. Despite the temporary man advantage, our opponents managed to retain possession efficiently and defended their narrow lead until the final whistle.
It was an incredibly tough opening fixture against strong opposition. While the result ultimately didn’t go our way, the performance – especially the response after going behind – showed we probably deserved at least a draw from the game. It represented a fantastic foundation to build on for the rest of the tournament.
Storm 2-1 Compton
Our second fixture of the day produced a fantastic bounce-back performance as we secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Compton.
We couldn’t have asked for a better start, opening the scoring straight from kick-off with a textbook goal straight from the training ground. A slick three-pass move carved open the Compton defence, allowing Luke Hitchen to clinically finish from 12 yards out. Compton pushed hard for an equaliser before the break, but they were repeatedly denied by a string of spectacular saves from Billy Bulloch in goal, ensuring we held a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Compton caught us cold immediately after the restart, finding space straight from the second-half kick-off to pull level via a deflected goal. Despite the setback, we played much better in spells as the half progressed, taking control of the tempo. The persistence paid off right at the death when a brilliant through ball found Luke, who coolly slotted home his second of the match to snatch a dramatic late winner.
It was a superb team effort to grind out the win, anchored by a magnificent performance from Billy, who would’ve deservedly scooped the Man of the Match honour (if there was one to scoop!).
Storm 5-0 Thunder
Our third match was a highly anticipated, all-Dexters derby. We faced off against our fellow squad, Dexters Thunder in the last match of the day.
The opening seven or eight minutes were incredibly tight and even, with both sides trading blows before Storm managed to break the deadlock. However, creating chances was one thing, but beating the Thunder goalkeeper and captain, Andy Hatchard, was another. He put on an absolute masterclass between the posts, pulling off a series of “off-the-scale” saves to keep his side in the hunt.
Despite the heroic goalkeeping display, Storm’s attacking pressure eventually told, ultimately running out 5-0 winners. Dave Lodge found the back of the net with a toe-punt into the top corner, while both Gary Craig and Luke Hitchen bagged a brace each – taking Luke’s impressive personal tally to four goals for the day.
While the goalscorers will grab the headlines, a special mention must go to Andy Gosling, whose outstanding performance across the entire park capped off a brilliant day of tournament football.
🔢 Storm results
| Opponents | Score | Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth | Lost 1-2 | Dave Lodge |
| Compton | Won 2-1 | Luke Hitchen x2 |
| Thunder | Won 5-0 | Luke Hitchen x2, Gary Craig x2, Dave Lodge |
📢 Storm quotes
Storm will challenge for sure, but their results against the other contenders will decide it. Unfortunately they’re normally won and lost by fine margins, as was the case against Bournemouth, but its a disappointment rather than a setback.”
Paul Gills, DSWFC 60s player
Dexters Thunder: Campaign Kick-off
Matchday events provided by Terry Benson.
The weather could not have been better for the first round of the Dorset Walking Football League. A sunny drive to Weymouth welcomed the squad to a newly laid surface at Redlands, where Dexters Thunder were set to take on Bournemouth Whites, Weymouth, and our fellow clubmen, Dexter Storm.
Unfortunately, the weeks leading up to the tournament handed us an unprecedented number of absentees due to holidays, family commitments, and a worrying string of injuries. This left management with just six fit players to draw from, meaning we were incredibly grateful to Storm for loaning us Mike Excell, who stepped up to help despite managing a niggling injury of his own.
📰 Thunder review
Thunder 1-1 Bournemouth Whites
Our opening fixture against Bournemouth Whites started slowly and we took an immediate hit when we lost Paul “Jock” Main to a hamstring injury as he unleashed a rocket of a free kick. This forced us to instantly deploy our only substitute, Mike Excell.
The game shifted when Bournemouth were reduced to four outfield players following a blue card. We capitalised quickly on the man advantage when Ali Rogers played a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of super-sub Mike, who took it beautifully in his stride to score a superb goal. However, a bit of tactical naivety saw the opposition sneak an equaliser almost immediately despite being short-handed.
Thanks to some fantastic goalkeeping from captain Andy Hatchard to keep us level, we held on for a 1-1 draw to put our first point of the season on the board. We all wish Jock a speedy recovery, he will be “sorely” missed! Sorry Jock, not my joke! (The Editor)
Thunder 2-2 Weymouth
The second match of the afternoon against tournament hosts Weymouth was a much more settled affair, though we had to show immense character throughout. Weymouth managed to strike early in both halves, asking serious questions of our depleted squad.
Defensively resilient and determined, the team fought back both times. Ali struck two crucial equalising goals, and alongside another fantastic, commanding effort from captain Andy Hatchard between the posts, the team ground out a well-earned 2-2 result to secure another brilliant point on the board.
Thunder 0-5 Storm
Our final match against Storm proved to be a one-sided affair as fatigue rapidly set in on a very warm afternoon. With no remaining substitutes, the manager (Terry Benson) stepped onto the pitch to help shore up the backline – quickly remembering that age and experience were no match for the quality of Luke and Gary upfront for Storm.
While a 5-0 loss was handed out, Thunder still created several excellent scoring chances, only to be thwarted by a tremendous performance from Storm’s Billy Bulloch in goal. The match highlighted just how lucky the club is to have such an incredibly talented pool of goalkeepers, including Billy, Andy Hatchard, Dave Bacall, and Steve Bailey.
🔢 Thunder results
| Opponents | Score | Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth Whites | Drew 1-1 | Mike Excell |
| Weymouth | Drew 2-2 | Ali Rogers x2 |
| Dexters Storm | Lost 0-5 |
📢 Thunder quotes
A massive thank you to Simon Baker for making the journey to assist with managing Thunder. Overall, given the extenuating circumstances and severe lack of numbers, walking away with two points represents a highly positive start to the campaign. Bring on round two!”
Terry Benson, Dexters Thunder Manager
A very good start by the new Thunder. Weymouth and Whites are no mugs, so solid results. As regards the Storm match, when Luke and Gaz are on their game there’s not much that can stop them, so no shame there.”
Paul Gillis, DSWFC 60s player
Brilliant day yesterday – loved it. Sad to see Jock go off early doors, speedy recovery pal. Plenty of good laughs and getting to know everyone more… not just on the pitch, but having a cheeky drink after too! Also beating Mark M at yellow car 5-1 😂😂 Cheers Gary for chauffeuring the kids about yesterday! 😂😂
Lee Welch, DSWFC 50s player
DSWFC Player Stats
Not too much to see here after just one 50s League Tournament, but good to see plenty of goals being scored already.
| Player | Tournaments | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Bulloch, Billy | 1 | – |
| Cockwell, Chris | 1 | 0 |
| Cooke, Simon | 1 | 0 |
| Craig, Gary | 1 | 2 |
| Excell, Mike | 1 | 1 |
| Gosling, Andy | 1 | 0 |
| Hatchard, Andy | 1 | – |
| Hitchen, Luke | 1 | 4 |
| Lodge, Dave | 1 | 2 |
| Main, Paul “Jock” | 1 | 0 |
| Rogers, Ali | 1 | 2 |
| Sanderson, Mark | 1 | 0 |
| Snell, Darren | 1 | 0 |
| Welch, Lee | 1 | 0 |
League Overview
After one League Round, Dorchester and Bournemouth lead the way with seven points-a-piece. Two wins to start the day and then a 1-1 draw with each other to round it off. Defending champions Amesbury smashed in a whole load of goals (13 in three matches!), but lost by the odd goal in seven when they met Eastleigh.
Dexters Storm slip into fourth place, having scored the second most goals on the day (eight), while Eastleigh and Weymouth both have symmetrical records having won one, drawn one, and lost one.
At the bottom end of the table Compton were the only side to win a game, while Bournemouth Whites and Dexters Thunder collected two points each. Holding everybody else up are Sherborne, who failed to score, but had possibly the hardest start to the campaign in the form of Dorchester, Bournemouth, and Amesbury!
Why not take look at the Dorset Walking Football League tables. Our page includes the results and history of the 50s, 60s and 65s over the past few seasons.
Future dates
The next date on the 50s fixture list is 1 November 2026, when we’ll be playing League Round Two at the Littledown Centre, Bournemouth (kick-off at 1pm). Check with your club nearer the time before making the journey though!
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Disclaimer
This article has been created and published in good faith. Any expressed opinions are those of the author and not necessarily those of Dexter Sports Walking Football Club.
This article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence. All facts, quotes, and claims have been reviewed and approved by our human editorial team.
Reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of publication. You should expect the information to become outdated the older the article becomes.
