Woodspring woe for Magpies (From Dorset Echo)

Woodspring woe for Magpies

10:41pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Sport

WESTON-SUPER-MARE 2 DORCHESTER TOWN 0

KANE Ingram bagged a double at the Woodspring Stadium tonight to put a huge dent in the Magpies’ play-off hopes in Blue Square Bet South.

The Weston-super-Mare striker claimed his brace in the first half and although Dorchester displayed plenty of commitment after the interval they were unable to break through.

Having lost just two of their previous 10 league matches ahead of kick-off, the Magpies went into the game full of confidence although they did have to shuffle the pack a bit.

With Arran Pugh joining Charlie Clough in the stands due to suspension, Nathan Walker and Mark Jermyn lined up in the heart of the defence, while Harrison Bell and Jamie Gleeson replaced Jake Smee-ton and Nick Crittenden, who both dropped to the bench.

There was also a change up front where recent loan signing Tom Nichols partnered Ben Watson in the absence of Kieffer Moore, who is still recovering from a thigh injury.

Joining Smeeton and Crittenden on the bench were Dan Floyd, Steve Walker and Jamie Symes, who was making his first appearance in a match-day squad since returning from a short loan spell at Bridport.

The opening exchanges were extremely tight with Kayne McLag-gon having the first real attempt for the Seagulls, which visiting keeper Jason Matthews dealt with comfortably.

Weston then got in behind Neil Martin on the right but the resulting effort sailed wide as Weston continued to carry the bigger threat.

The Magpies were slowly growing into the game though, and moments later a threatening cross from Martin caused panic in the home box leading to a brave intervention from keeper Lloyd Irish.

Dorchester then made a tactical change to 4-4-2 with Crittenden replacing Lewis Morgan.

However, just two minutes later they conceded a penalty.

Martin was forced into making the mistimed challenge and up stepped Ingram to dispatch the resulting spot-kick in emphatic fashion. It was a huge setback for Dor-chester but they immediately went up the other end looking to make amends with Gleeson shooting wide from 20 yards and Ashley Nicholls firing over following a good lay-off from Tom Nichols.

The latter also had a sight of goal after a trademark run from Critten-den but he was unable to direct his effort on target.

The hosts were beginning to look edgy but just prior to half-time they calmed their nerves with a second against the run of play.

Nabi Diallo was the architect with a driving run and shot, and when the ball ran loose there was Ingram to tuck home the rebound much to the visitors’ disbelief.

Dorchester now had a mountain to climb but they remained positive after the break and had Crittenden not stayed on his feet when tripped in the box they might have been awarded a penalty. In the end he ran into one defender too many and was eventually tackled.

Weston then threatened with a header from a free-kick, which flew over the bar, before Irish pulled off a good save to deny Sam Malsom at the other end.

Despite showing plenty of ambition the Magpies continued to be thwarted in their attempts to reduce the deficit by a stubborn home defence.

And even when the Seagulls’ backline did go astray while defending a free-kick the visitors were unable to take advantage with Malsom setting up a great chance for Gleeson who somehow squandered the opportunity.

Malsom was proving Dorchester’s biggest threat but not even he could hit the target when teed up on the volley with the ball flying over the crossbar.

Ashley Nicholls and Tom Nicholls were then denied by Irish and by that stage it was clear it was not going to be the away side’s night.

The final whistle eventually brought an end to proceedings leaving Weston to celebrate moving up to fifth in the table, seven points above the deflated Magpies.

Magpies: Matthews, Bell, Jermyn, N Walker, Martin, Morgan (Crittenden 26), Gleeson, Nicholls, Malsom, Watson, Nichols. Subs not used: Floyd, S Walker, Smeeton, Symes.

Bookings: Dorchester – Jermyn, Nicholls.

Attendance: 268