We deserved a draw claims Dorchester boss (From Dorset Echo)

We deserved a draw claims Dorchester boss

8:50am Monday 18th February 2013 in Sport By David Williams, Sports Reporter

PHIL Simkin insisted his Dorchester Town side deserved a draw from their ultimately fruitless trip to Basingstoke Town.

However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom as new striker Kieffer Moore opened his account for the Magpies in his second game since joining from Truro City, the side Simkin’s men face tomorrow night.

And Saturday’s 2-1 reverse at The Camrose in Hampshire also marked the return of two of Simkin’s key players, club captain Mark Jermyn and all-action midfielder Ashley Nicholls.

Both came off the bench having missed the last few Blue Square Bet South games through injury and almost helped the visitors salvage a draw from 2-0 down.

A few defensive lapses coupled with a calf strain for striker Ben Watson played a major role in the Magpies’ defeat, according to Simkin.

“On the day a draw would have been the right result,” he told Echosport. “I think they will have counted themselves lucky to win that game.

“Unfortunately we lost Watto at half- time. He tweaked his calf and never really recovered from that.

“He did well in the first half and should have scored with a header at the back post.

“We had a lot of possession on a poor pitch and I don’t think they had a shot on goal in the first 45 minutes.

“But for their first goal the ball should have been cleared. It was bobbling around a bit and they made the most of it to go 1-0 up.

“We had to chase it and change our shape. We put Charlie Clough up front then they got a second with five or six minutes left.

“Kieffer then pulled one back with a header and Neil Martin rattled the post at the end.

“I can’t think of a time when we’ve gone to Basingstoke and had the run of the ball so it’s a bit of a bogey ground for us.”

The manager, though, was delighted for Moore and was relieved to see Nicholls and Jermyn come through their cameos unscathed.

“I’m pleased that Kieffer got his first goal for the club,” he added. “It was difficult for him without Watto in the second half but he has done well and was a big handful.

“Ash came on at the start of the second half and Jem with about 20 minutes to go and both came through the game without any problems but both were a bit rusty.”

The loss saw Dorchester drop three places in the table to 13th where they are five points clear of the relegation zone but with games in hand on most of the clubs around them.

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