DORCHESTER TOWN 0 TRURO CITY 1

DORCHESTER Town’s last friendly before the league season kicks off this Saturday ended in defeat to Truro, but Mark Jermyn says he is pleased with the way his team’s build-up to the new campaign has gone.

In a game at the Avenue that was low on scoring chances, Matt Wright netted the visitors’ winner from close range on 68 minutes.

Wright also clipped the bar with a header in the first half as the Cornish outfit, promoted from the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division in May, probably did just enough to edge the clash.

The hosts went with a front two of new signing Jonah Ayunga and Tony Lee, who the Magpies are looking to sign on loan from Eastleigh, while Ben Watson featured in a role just behind the strikers.

Oakley Hanger returned to fill in at right-back but there was still no Chris Dillon for the home side.

The loss was Dorchester’s third in their six pre-season friendlies, with two wins and a draw coming from the other fixtures over the summer.

“Pre-season has been a mixed bag for us,” said Magpies’ boss Jermyn. “We’ve been in some pre-season games and it hasn’t quite clicked for us.

“We’ve identified things we need to work on, which were our shape, how we want to play, and our fitness.

“We’ve got a young group and we must maintain our shape and keep good fitness levels throughout the season. I think those two things alone will see us through.

“There are going to be some competitive teams in the league this season and we matched Truro, and they got promoted from the league last season.

“They’ve strengthened by bringing in one or two very good players, so we’ve shown we can compete.

“We are still one or two players short and we missed Chris Dillon again. That’s no slight on Jake (Smeeton), I thought Jake did well, but Chris gives us that little bit of height and pace.

“We felt we matched Truro up until about 70 minutes when they brought on six or seven pairs of fresh legs.”

He continued: “By and large, I’m happy with the way pre-season has gone.

“My expectations of the players were a little bit higher but we’ll look to keep pushing them for the season.

“Pre-season could have been better but there’s certainly nothing we’re worried about at the moment.”

Magpies: Walker-Harris (Murphy 46), Hanger (Brookes 86), Martin (James 86), Jermyn, Oldring, Smeeton, Davis, Morgan, Ayunga (Crittenden 77), Watson, Lee (Irvine 58). Sub not used: Woodland