The Acorns walk out at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium for the first time in 2026 as we take on play-off chasing, Shaftesbury AFC.
After Saturday’s 1-0 win at Exmouth Town, the Acorns will be searching for back-to-back victories and extend our home unbeaten run, in the Southern League Div One South, to six games.
Ahead of Shaftesbury’s trip up to Gloucestershire, here is everything you need to know about our opposition.
THE OPPOSITION- SHAFTESBURY AFC
STADIUM- Cockram
NICKNAME- The Rockies
FOUNDED- 1888
MANAGER- James Milligan
LEAGUE POSITION- 5th
LAST FIVE- W-W-L-D-W
WHAT’S HAPPENED SO FAR THIS SEASON?
The Rockies have proved to be true promotion contenders and are in the form of their lives, suffering just one defeat in their last 13 games.
A confident 3-0 win last time out against play-off rivals, Bishops Cleeve, saw the Rockies leapfrog the Mitres into the play-off positions.
That win improved their impressive form against play-off rivals, having faced four promotion battling sides in their last six games.
Wins over Cleeve and Portishead Town, either side of a draw at Frome Town and defeat at Winchester City, has seen the Rockies implement themselves in the promotion picture.
PLAYER TO WATCH- TOBIAS HOLMES
In a side full of goals, Tobias Holmes has got himself involved in the majority of them in recent times, scoring in four of his last six games.
Holmes has managed five goals in that period including a point securing brace during an entertaining 3-3 draw with Frome.
With his side 3-1 down heading into the final 10 minutes, Holmes picked out the net on 80 and 86 minutes to rescues a point on the road.
RECENT FORM
10.01.26 – Shaftesbury AFC 3-0 Bishops Cleeve (Southern League Div One South)
27.12.25 – Shaftesbury AFC 3-3 Frome Town (Southern League Div One South)
20.12.25 – Winchester City 2-0 Shaftesbury AFC (Southern League Div One South)
16.12.25 – Bashley 1-3 Shaftesbury AFC (Southern League Div One South)
13.12.25 – Shaftesbury AFC 2-0 Brixham AFC (Southern League Div One South)
