SHERBORNE TOWN 3 Dorchester UNITED 0 ALREADY fielding a makeshift team missing seven regulars, United ran into more problems at Sherborne when star goalkeeper Dan Claxton and top striker Martin Hillier were both taken to hospital with serious injuries in the first half.

But the young Dorchester side battled on to make it a much closer game than the scoreline suggested and the final result did not reflect the possession and chances they created.

Claxton's season is over after he broke his arm in the sixth minute. He jumped to fist away a corner and his arm then made contact with the head of an attacker.

Defender Simon Angel took over in goal and his first touch a minute later resulted in a goal for the home side.

He pushed a corner kick on to the head of Sherborne attacker John Haytor who nodded it straight back over him into the net.

Martin Hillier had a chance to level the scoring after 22 minutes when a fierce drive from the corner of the box was kept out by a resolute Sherborne defence.

Two minutes later he had another chance when a long clearance found him on his own with only the keeper to beat but his shot just grazed the upright.

Sherborne made it 2-0 after 21 minutes when the United defence failed to clear and the ball ran to Sam Jarman who made no mistake.

As the half progressed Dorchester had two or three good chances to score but could not not convert.

Their worries increased in first half stoppage time when Martin Hillier was caught by a tackle as he broke clear and had to be stretchered off and taken by ambulance to Yeovil Hospital.

He injured tendons in his knee and is likely to be sidelined for several weeks.

The second half started as the first had finished with the visitors creating plenty of openings but with no end product.

Midway through the second half United manager Kevin Hillier brought on 15-year-old Sam Clark for his first taste of Premier Division football and the busy youngster soon showed himself to be an excellent prospect when his powerful header from a corner just cleared the crossbar.

But in the 73rd the home side got a controversial third goal with their only attack of the second half.

Goalscorer Jarman looked to be standing offside when he converted a cross at the near post but the officials did not see it that way and the goal stood.

United: Claxton (Legg), Cheeseman (Clark), Hall, Angel, Rossiter, S Churchill, Taylor, R Churchill, Baillie, M Hillier (Rimmer), Yeates.