RIVAL soccer bosses Eddie Belt and Martyn Harrison are promoting a new era of co-operation between Dorset's top non-League clubs.

The chairmen of fierce local rivals Dorchester and Weymouth buried the hatchet at a pre-match directors' lunch at the Avenue Stadium before the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round match.

And they were both still smiling after the match - which saw the Terras end the Magpies dreams of glory with the only goal of the game - with Belt admitting "the best team won".

Now Belt has suggested the two clubs could take their co-operation a step further by getting together to raise funds. It's a far cry from last season when relations between followers of the two clubs - which have bordered on animosity since the Magpies briefly boasted a loftier perch on soccer's non-League ladder in the mid-90s - reached an all-time low.

Jubilant Terras fans rubbished the Magpies after their 8-0 hammering of their neighbours on Boxing Day and then former chairman Ian Ridley soured relations further by launching a public attack on the county town club for their handling of the big crowd at the New Year's Day return fixture.

However, Belt says since Harrison took over as chief executive at the Wessex Stadium things have changed.

"I have to admit there have been times in the past when there hasn't been the best of friendships between the two clubs," said Belt. "I got on well with Terry Bennett whose heart and soul was in Weymouth and we did build bridges when he was chairman. Then, although I personally got on quite well with his successor Mr Ridley, it did seem that he was sniping at us all the time, so we took a step backwards.

"Martyn Harrison came up to watch one of our games a few weeks ago and I found him to be one of the nicest blokes you could wish to meet.

"We decided to invite four of their directors to a pre-match meal before the FA Cup game and it turned out to be a great idea.

"We all got on very well and some interesting ideas came up which could be of benefit to both clubs, such as staging joint events to raise cash.

"It makes sense for the two clubs to work hand in hand instead of being at each other's throats and I believe there is a lot we can learn from each other."

Belt said he still looked forward to continuing the on-the-pitch rivalry and hoped the inevitable banter between both sets of supporters would "stay friendly".

He admitted the Magpies could do with the kind of financial backing Harrison had given the Terras.

"The little bit of extra class they have been able to bring into their team was what made the difference in the cup tie," he said. "We put up a spirited display, but we could still do with a couple more players in the Matty Holmes and Paul Wood mould to bolster our young squad."

Harrison said: "I don't see why we shouldn't be friendly and work together. We share a lot of things, including sponsors, and we both have the same kind of struggle to get funds in.

"Dorchester looked after us really well and we had a very pleasant day. I know there is bound to be rivalry beween the fans, but let's keep it to friendly banter."