DORCHESTER TOWN 1

PORTSMOUTH DEVELOPMENT SQUAD 0

DAVID Jerrard's precise first-half finish was the difference as the Magpies put out their best display of pre-season with a 1-0 over a Portsmouth Development Squad. 

Trialist Jerrard was playing his first game for the hosts and he got onto a ball from the impressive Liam Sayers to fire home in the 41st minute.

Dorchester bossed much of the game and Sayers had multiple chances to add his name to the scoresheet but couldn't find the net.

Substitute Matt Mayes had the best chance to equalise for the visitors, but second-half 'keeper Jordan Mullis made a fantatstic save to deny him and earn his side the win.

After a 7-0 hammering by Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s on Wednesday night, the Magpies started brightly, playing a 4-4-2 formation - the first time they have done so in pre-season.

In the first half, they created the better of the chances, Nathan Walker volleying straight at Nick Hall from 20 yards.

They took a deserved lead with four minutes of the first period remaining.

Jerrard was found by Sayers on the counter-attack and he slotted a right-footed shot into the bottom corner.

The Magpieis started the second half as they had ended the first - on the front foot.

Sayers fired over from five yards before Jake Smeeton curled a free-kick just over the bar.

With substitues came a winding down of the game and both teams struggled to maintain their intensity as the clash wore on.

The visitors had a few clear-cut opportunities but Mullis, playing his first minutes of the campaign, performed admirably to keep his clean sheet in tact.

Aldo Lopes had a chance at the death to seal the match but he blazed it over after good work from winger Mario Mateus - another player who looked spritely after coming on at hallf-time.

This was the final chance of a game that would have pleased manager Mark Jermyn, and they will be back in action on Tuesday away to Wimborne Town (7.45pm).