ST IVES TOWN 1

DORCHESTER TOWN 0

DORCHESTER Town’s march to Southern Premier Division safety was interrupted in Cambridgeshire as hosts St Ives Town recorded a 1-0 win, their first victory since January 24.


For the spectators this was a hard fought but dull encounter largely devoid of goalmouth action.


Sadly for Craig Laird’s team, Ben Seymour-Shove seized his ninth minute loose ball chance to fire the hosts into an early lead which his side never 
relinquished and in the process condemn the Magpies to a 14th away defeat of the season.


Kyle Egan made his debut at right-back for the Magpies on loan from Exeter City, and was called into action after just two minutes making a timely tackle to check the powerful run of Seymour-Shove. 


The Saints continued to press and a 25-yard shot from Jordan Jarrold was saved by Magpies’ keeper Shane Murphy. 


The only goal of the game followed a right-wing Charlie Day corner which Dorchester failed to clear and there was the lively Seymour-Shove lurking to shoot into the top left corner from 20 yards.


The Magpies were offering little threat to the St Ives goal at this stage. 
Another Day corner was punched clear by Murphy then Toby Down calmly steered the ball back to his keeper before Tom McGowan could capitalise.


Neil Martin’s 19th minute free-kick did bring a comfortable save from home keeper Tim Trebes before Laird made his first change of the afternoon three minutes later when Tom Blair came off the bench to replace the ill Lewis Powell. 


Shortly after, a foul by Josh Dawkin on Jon Vance conceded a free-kick which Nathan Walker played short to Blair but his cross was cut out by Trebes. 


Dorchester’s best chance of the first half came in the 34th minute when Jordan Williams pumped over a cross from the left wing which fell for the unmarked Vance at the far post but the Magpies’ midfielder failed to get enough power behind his shot which was saved again by Trebes.

 
Blair then provided another centre which was met by Martin whose header deflected wide.


At the other end, McGowan went down in the box but penalty appeals were waved aside, then Jarrold’s free-kick was met by Liam McDevitt whose header was saved by Murphy. 


There was another chance for Dorchester just before half-time when McGowan handled and the free-kick from Vance was met by Walker whose powerful header was clawed around the post by the Saints’ stopper.


Neither side made any changes at the start of the second half. 
Seymour-Shove created the first opening after the break but Murphy was equal to the resultant shot from Danny Kelly. 

Blair was then presented with a shooting chance after the Cambridgeshire side failed to clear a Vance corner but the Dorchester substitute mis-kicked at the vital moment. 


Good work by Matt Oldring was then undone by a poor scuffed shot.


St Ives should have added a second goal in the 54th minute when Day’s corner from the right was met by McDevitt whose downward close-range header and rebound attempt both struck Murphy before the ball was hacked clear by Martin.


Laird moved Walker to attacking duties in the latter stages of the match as Laird tried to find a way of breaking through a well marshalled 
St Ives defence.


 Ormrod then had a shot deflect wide from the Martin corner that followed, Down’s header flew wide. Substitute Jack Higgs fired wide from 30 yards for the home side.


 The best chance of Dorchester salvaging a point fell to Ormrod in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Vance spotted him in space but somehow the Dorchester striker sent his close range shot the wrong side of the far post.


But it wasn’t to be for the visitors, who were unable to make it three wins on the bounce for the first time this season.


St Ives: Trebes, Bradshaw, Jarrold, Cheffey (c), McDevitt, McGowan, Seymour-Shove, Clark (Higgs 71), Kelly (De’ath 83), Dawkin, Day (Ogbonna 65) 


Magpies: Murphy, Egan, Martin, Vance, Walker (c), Down, Griggs, Oldring, Ormrod, Powell ( Blair 22), Williams ( Mitchell 87) Subs not used: Ayunga, Clarke, Brookes


Referee: Stuart Cheek (Stevenage)
Attendance: 203

​Dorchester Town Reserves are in action on Monday night as they take on Salisbury FC in the Wyvern Challenge Cup (7.45).