DORCHESTER Town manager Steve Thompson felt his side could have shipped more than two goals in their 2-0 Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division defeat to Slough Town at Arbour Park.

Goals from Manny Williams on eight minutes and Matt Lench in the 45th handed the Magpies their ninth away league loss this season, but Thompson admitted Dorchester had been fortunate to come away from Berkshire with such a lenient scoreline.

Thompson, who made over 140 appearances, scoring over 40 goals, for the Rebels as a player, conceded youth could have played a part in his side’s poor away form this season.

The unhappy Magpies’ boss told Echosport: “We didn’t play well and it could’ve been more. It was the fact that Slough opened us up on many occasions. We got off to a poor start and then the early goal came because of that.

“If there’s a reason, I’d like to know. I wonder why we’ve won four on the spin at home and just one point in five away games.”

He added: “You think maybe young players find it more difficult, but the pitch was immaculate on the 3G, we never got started in the whole game.

“We had a few moments in the second half where we created a few chances. I was talking to the Slough manager (Jon Underwood) and his youngest player was 24.

“We’ve got five or six below 24 and maybe five or six below 20.

“It’s very hard to take positives from the game. The positive is it wasn’t five or six.

“We were very poor and if they’d have been clinical it could have been five or six-nil.”

Commenting on his return to Slough, who have moved from their previous Wexham Park home to a new purpose-built stadium, Thompson was disappointed with the result.

He said: “I saw a few people that I know, it’s nice to go back. It’s a different ground but I just wish that the team I was in charge of could have produced a better performance.”

Dorchester were buoyed by David Jerrard’s return from injury, but will sweat on Luke Winsper’s fitness after he injured his ankle.