SALISBURY 3

Fitchett 16, Wannell 52, Hopper 72

DORCHESTER TOWN 0

TEN-man Dorchester Town were sent to a disappointing 3-0 Evo-Stik Southern Premier South defeat at Salisbury.

Goals from Dan Fitchett, former Terra Jake Wannell and Luke Hopper proved sufficient to send the Magpies to their second loss of the season.

Callum Rose was then sent off seconds after the third goal to complete a miserable day for the visitors, who were unchanged from the starting XI that began the thumping 4-2 win over Wimborne Town on Tuesday evening. 

Harry Kite and Tom Blair both started despite being substituted during that clash as a precaution following respective head and hamstring issues. 

The sole change to the Magpies’ matchday XI lay on the bench, where left-back Chris Clarke was replaced by goalkeeper Mike Edgar following the former’s dual registration with Portland United, for whom he played in a 1-0 victory against Portchester at the Weyline Stadium. 

In the most recent meeting between the sides, Salisbury came out as 2-1 victors against the Magpies in a BigFreeBet.com Challenge Cup tie last October and looking at the latest encounter there was little sign Dorchester would trouble the Whites.

Steve Claridge’s men, who prior to kick-off sat in 14th having collected just one point, a 2-2 draw with Beaconsfield, in their opening two games, started the better side.

But it was Dorchester who pushed on to produce their first opening when Bristol Rovers’ loanee striker Cameron Allen tested Jake Hallett in the Salisbury goal having been supplied by the busy winger Cameron Murray.

Yet Claridge’s men forced the breakthrough on 16 minutes when Fitchett was afforded too much time and space in the area.

The midfielder was able to pick his spot with aplomb past Southampton loanee gloveman Kingsley Latham as the Magpies failed to defend a free-kick well enough.

Fitchett’s goal followed up his maiden strike for the club, having netted in a 2-1 loss to Poole Town last time out.

Dorchester continued to toil in the first half and saw Exeter City loanee midfielder Kite booked for a late challenge.

Latham was then on hand to make an excellent save with his feet before Dorchester saw the resultant overhit corner safely out of play.

Allen, who has yet to score for his new club during a one-month loan spell from the Pirates, then did superbly well to retrieve possession, only to fire an attempt wide of Hallett’s uprights just before the break.

But just seven minutes into the second half, former Weymouth midfielder Wannell headed in a corner when unchallenged by the Dorchester defence to put Steve Thompson's men further behind.

Salisbury bagged their third on 72 minutes after a mix-up between Neil Martin and Rose, allowing substitute Hopper to fire past Latham and seal the win.

A poor defensive afternoon for Dorchester worsened when Rose was sent off for an alleged elbow, the centre-half receiving his marching orders after referee Daniel Flynn brandished a second yellow card.

Dorchester's Alex Stafie had a shot saved by Hallett in a frustrating second half for Dorchester, who had shown signs of improvement when 2-0 down.

As it was, Thompson's men were sent to a first league away defeat since March 27 when Kettering beat the Magpies 4-3, breaking a sequence of five away games unbeaten.