DORCHESTER Town’s season certainly had its fair share of ups and downs.

The highlights being the calibre of player drafted in over the summer and a fine run in the FA Cup before suffering heartache at the hands of Oxford United.

However, there were plenty of lows for the Magpies’ faithful to endure as well, most notably the cost-cutting measures introduced in the New Year, which eventually resulted in key players leaving the club.

Here is the past 10 months in a nutshell:

* Star names including Kevin Hill and Nick Crittenden are brought in over the summer to help form an impressive looking squad.

* A successful pre-season sees the Magpies pick up five wins and draw with both Premier League Portsmouth and League Two outfit AFC Bournemouth.

* Dorchester sign experienced keeper Gareth Stewart and despite an opening day win at Braintree Town, the Magpies lose Ivan Forbes for eight months and Roy O’Brien for four before embarking on an 11-game winless streak.

* FA Cup joy revives the Magpies’ season as the club reaches the first round of the competition in eight years, setting up a tie with Blue Square Premier heavyweights Oxford United.

* A disallowed goal denies Dorchester a famous win at the Kassam Stadium in November before the county town side lose out in extra-time in the replay, having gone down to 10 men.

* After crashing out, the Magpies pick up 11 points in their next five league games to climb closer to the top half.

* Another dip in form followed before Eddie Mitchell introduced wage cuts of 30 per cent in mid-January. O’Brien was axed along with several other players before the defender was reinstated in a dramatic U-turn. At the same time, Shaun Brooks resigns from his post and Brian O’Donnell is eventually put in temporary charge.

* The Magpies continue to struggle for points as stars such as Wes Fogden, Jamie Mudge, Ryan Moss and Danny Clay exit.

* O’Brien is appointed player-boss at the beginning of March, bringing Ashley Vickers in as his assistant, but results remain hard to come by.

* An embarrassing performance sees Dorchester lose out in the final of the Dorset Senior Cup to lower league Poole Town.

* But an unbeaten run of three games, culminating in the final day victory over Bromley, saves the Magpies from relegation.

Pick up today's Echo for a full season review.