Dorchester win as a team

Featured Match Report

Dorchester Town v Yate Town

DORCHESTER ended a long drought at home with a much-needed 2-0 BetVictor Southern Premier South victory over fellow strugglers Yate Town in assistant-manager Trevor Senior’s final game at the Clayson Stadium.

Callum Brooks’ men were languishing in the relegation zone prior to kick-off but this victory – their first at home since a 1-0 triumph over Beaconsfield on August 10 – helped elevate them from the bottom three. Neil Martin claimed a rare goal in the 25th minute, heading home a Charlie Davis corner before Tom Blair added a second seven minutes later in a crucial double salvo. The Magpies had to resist late Yate pressure but held strong to gain what could be a precious win.

Dorchester made two changes to the side that began Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Merthyr Town as Tom Purrington and Davis came in for Ashley Wells, who was utilised by parent club Weymouth for their FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie loss to Dover, and Sean Wright. There was no place in the Magpies’ squad for Cameron Sangster, with Jason Brookes coming into the matchday squad ahead of the on-loan Plymouth youngster. Dorchester’s match already had significance attached to it with Yate hovering just four places above the Magpies.

However, Senior announced before kick-off that the game would be his last in the dugout. Senior had tweeted his desire to “finish with a win” and the Magpies duly delivered after a marginally nervy start.

Yate nearly profited when goalkeeper Shane Murphy, who otherwise had an outstanding game, mishit a kick to enable Yate an audacious long-range attempt at goal that landed on the roof of the net in the ninth minute. Dorchester began to creep into the game, led by the impressive Purrington who showed twinkle toes on the edge of the Yate area before firing at Adam Forster. After growing into the game, the Magpies seized the initiative through the most unlikely of goal sources.

Upon winning a corner, Dorchester sent Martin up and the defender bulleted a header past Forster from Davis’ delivery in the 25th minute to score an 11th goal for the Magpies in his 379th game. Captain Dan Strugnell was indebted to Murphy for a superb save four minutes later as the former Havant centre-back misdirected a clearance across the box, allowing Yate to fire at Murphy, but the former Totton gloveman clawed the effort to safety.

Murphy’s save increased in value as Blair put Dorchester ahead with his third goal in 13 games this season. Coming just three minutes after Murphy’s crucial intervention, an incisive move involving Purrington found Billy Lowes who supplied Blair – the winger blasting past Forster for a 2-0 lead.

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