GILLINGHAM Town have won promotion to Western League Division One after the FA reshuffled the National League System.

Town will play alongside fellow Dorset side Sherborne Town in Step 6, one tier below Bridport in the Western League Premier Division.

AEK Boco, formerly of the Gloucestershire County League, and Tytherington Rocks of the Hellenic League Division One West, join Gillingham.

In total, 107 clubs were boosted a division but Dorchester Sports have missed out on promotion from the Dorset Premier League (Step 7) to Wessex Division One.

READ MORE: When Dorchester Sports applied for Step 6 promotion

Hamworthy Recreation, who have dominated the Dorset Premier League for the past two seasons, also saw their application snubbed.

Ash United, Bush Hill, Fleet Spurs and Infinity gained places in Wessex Division One.

The decision to promote Gillingham leaves the Dorset Premier League with just 15 teams, although Corfe Castle could return after hibernation due to Covid-19.

The FA created one new division at Step 4 and two additional divisions at Step 5. There was a reduction of Step 6 divisions, from 20 to 17.

Movement in the National League (Step 1) and National League South and North (Step 2) is yet to be confirmed.

No changes were seen at Step 3 level, meaning Dorchester Town will continue in the Southern League Premier South in 2021/22.

Portland United will also stay in the Wessex Premier Division (Step 5), which now hosts 21 clubs instead of 20.

The Blues face new competition in Alton, Hythe & Dibden plus Moneyfields, who took voluntary relegation.

US Portsmouth, who were beaten by Binfield in a remarkable run to the FA Vase semi-finals earlier this month, also join Franklyn Clarke's Portland United.

Lymington Town were promoted to Step 4, while Fleet Town and Tadley Calleva have sidestepped to the Combined Counties Premier Division South.

With their league reduced to 20 teams from 21, Bridport have six new opponents next season, with Ashton & Backwell promoted from Western Division One. 

Coming up from South West Peninsula League level are big-hitters Helston Athletic and Ilfracombe Town plus Cornish sides Saltash United, Millbrook United and Mousehole.

Also in Bridport's league, Plymouth Parkway have been promoted to Step 4, while Bradford Town, Chipping Sodbury Town, Hallen, Roman Glass St George, Westbury United and Cribbs sidestep to the Hellenic Premier Division.