MAGPIES 2 FARNBOROUGH 0

FIRST-HALF goals from on-loan Tom Nichols and debutant Steve Walker helped secure a thoroughly deserved win for the Magpies at the Avenue tonight.

The victory put them back to within three points of the play-off places in Blue Square Bet South as the county town side found the back of the net for the first time in nearly four matches.

Captain Mark Jermyn led by example from the centre of the hosts’ defence while there were stand out performances throughout the Dorchester side.

Centre back Walker was more than impressive alongside Jermyn on his first team debut and he proved a more than capable replacement for the suspended trio of brother Nathan, Arran Pugh and Charlie Clough.

There was also a familiar face back in goal in the shape of Alan Walker-Harris, who answered an SOS from boss Phil Simkin having only been released from the club earlier this month.

Walker-Harris was nearly called into action inside the first couple of minutes but Jake Smeeton came to his rescue when he got in the way of Dave Tarpey’s effort following a deep cross to the back post.

At the other end, Kieffer Moore was being closely watched by visiting skipper Alan Inns and the centre back smothered the striker’s first half chance after being found by Harry Bell.

The deadlock was broken on 22 minutes and it was the hosts who opened the scoring after more than three-and-a-half games without a goal.

Neil Martin found space down the left flank and crossed for Nichols who took a touch before firing home with his left foot from six yards out – it was the home side’s first effort on target and Nichols’s first goal back in Dorchester colours after a loan spell last season.

Back in the Magpies’ penalty area and Walker-Harris was lucky to get away with a flap at a Daniel Bennett corner and Jermyn needed to be alert again following some trickery from the Farnborough man.

Dorchester may have been leading but it was turning out to be a rusty return to the side from injury for Moore with nothing sticking at the feet of the big centre forward and his first touch letting him down on more than one occasion.

It was nearly 1-1 when a superb through ball by Bennett set-up Tarpey but to his credit Walker-Harris blocked his shot with a smart save.

Then on the brink of half-time the Magpies doubled their advantage.

However, it came from a rather harsh looking free-kick awarded against midfielder Steve Laidler who appeared to be the stronger in a shoulder to shoulder challenge with Martin only to be booked for his troubles.

From the resulting set piece Walker rose to head towards goal and with Moore causing problems for keeper Ben Bradshaw the ball trickled into the net.

Eight minutes into second period and the three points were nearly wrapped up.

Nichols worked himself free in the Farnborough box, laid the ball off to Jamie Gleeson and the midfielder’s blistering strike from the edge of the area was magnificently tipped over by Bradshaw.

A third could have followed from the resulting corner but Jermyn somehow managed to head wide from four yards when virtually unmarked.

The visitors thought they had been given a way back into the contest on 67 minutes when Tarpey went down in the Magpies’ box under a challenge from Jermyn. However, referee Stephen Daly cautioned the attacking player for diving.

His skipper Inns was also yellow carded a minute later for going too far with his protestations.

Farnborough looked like they had a goal in them but the best chances during the remainder of the second half fell the home side’s way.

With Ben Watson replacing Moore with just over 10 minutes left, a mazy run from Martin set-up Nichols for his second but a cruel bobble saw him miss the target completely.

Lewis Morgan then made space for himself 10 yards out only for his low shot to sneak past the post and in injury time Nichols had a header from point blank range but it lacked any power to trouble Bradshaw.

Magpies: Walker-Harris, Bell, Smeeton, Jermyn, S Walker, Gleeson, Crittenden, Morgan, Moore (Watson 77), Nichols, Martin. Subs not used: Malsom, Brooks, Way, Floyd

Farnborough: Bradshaw, Huggins (O’Reagan 74), Treacher, Inman, Inns, Bosch (Moody 57), Bennett, Laidler, Connolly, Peniket (Ciardini 35), Tarpey. Subs not used: Salami, Norris