DORCHESTER Town manager Steve Thompson believes the Magpies had “no divine right” to beat rock-bottom, 10-man Gosport Borough after Gary Bowles’ stoppage-time goal earned his side a 3-3 draw in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division.

Thompson’s men had twice gone ahead through Archie Collins and Ed Bastick goals but were pulled back by Craig McAllister and Stephane Bombelenga efforts, either side of Harry Medway’s red card for an elbow on Neil Martin.

Jason Smith’s audacious backheel looked to have sealed a precious win for the hosts, but Bowles salvaged a draw late in the game.

Boro had only scored 15 goals in 27 games prior to kick-off but increased that tally by 20 per cent after a dramatic game, as they closed the gap to relegation rivals Dunstable Town in 23rd to four points.

As for Dorchester, a sheepish-looking point starved them of the opportunity to register their second away league win of the season.

Speaking to Echosport following

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the encounter, Thompson rued an “awful” first half amidst a “disappointing” overall display.

He said: “I’m a little bit disappointed but these sorts of things happen in football. We’ve got no divine right to win a game of football.

“We were awful in the first half. We were much better in the second half but we looked like losing it. Thankfully we managed to get the point.

“It was a disappointing performance, particularly in the first half.”

Thompson revealed he and assistant-manager Trevor Senior delivered some harsh words at half-time after Collins’ opening goal failed to relax his side.

He said: “It was a well-taken free-kick and I thought it might have settled us, but it didn’t and we continued to make mistakes. We were very, very sloppy.

“Seven or eight players had a poor first half, you can’t get away with that.

“We knew we would have to get into them a bit at half-time and that’s exactly what myself and Trevor did. We didn’t mince our words.”

But Thompson was keen to give Gosport credit for their display, before applauding his team for an improved second-half showing.

“You always give the other team a little bit of credit. They had to play 55 minutes with 10 men, and although they were hanging on they kept plugging away.

“Unfortunately we weren’t quite brave enough. When we did get a cross in a little bit of bravery would have gone down well to get your head on something.

“It was a bit more pleasing at the end of the game because I felt we totally dominated the second half,” he said.

“I don’t think the result disguised the performance because most people would think we played poorly. People know where Gosport are and they will know that 3-3 is a disappointing result for us.

“If we play well, we beat Gosport but unfortunately we only played well in the second half,” he added.

Despite the manner of the performance, Thompson found positives in the form of Collins and Bowles.

He said: “I felt that there were a couple of very good performances from the game.

“In the second half Archie and Gary completely controlled the game from the centre of the field, which is what we would have wanted against a 10-man Gosport team.”

Thompson then confirmed that talks were ongoing to lengthen Callum Rose’s loan deal at the Avenue, and refuted erroneous reports that Antonio Diaz had been recalled by Bournemouth.

“I think we can extend (Rose’s deal) up until Tuesday. I’m hopeful that that can be done, he has been terrific for us.

“We’ve not had (Diaz) for the last four games because Bournemouth have had his services. Nobody has rung me to say the deal has ended,” he said.