BOSS Ashley Vickers took “full responsibility” for Dorchester’s heaviest defeat of the season.

The Magpies’ chief made wholesale changes for the trip to struggling Lewes and those on the periphery of the starting XI failed to take their opportunity as the relegation-threatened hosts plundered five goals without reply.

Speaking after his side’s third Blue Square South defeat on the bounce, Vickers said: “We can’t have any complaints about the result. We deserved a hiding and that’s exactly what we got.

“But I take full responsibility for it. I changed the team heavily and the buck stops with me. I needed to look at a couple of things and it didn’t work.

“We believed the lads would take the opportunity but that was not the case and we were lacklustre to say the least.

“I learnt a great deal and that’s all we can do. There are certain players we can’t do without, we will put it down to a bad experience and bounce back next week.

“It was a poor performance, you can’t hide from that, but I won’t lambaste the lads. Having said that they need to take these chances.

“Prior to this we put in two good performances but suffered two losses, against Lewes we were abject and the things that had become a benchmark for our displays, such as desire, were all missing.

“It was a key game for Lewes and they took the bull by the horns, whereas we didn’t.

“Harsh words were said at half-time and afterwards but we can only learn from it.

“The outcome helps to a certain extent in making decisions about players. We will reflect on it in the next couple of days.”

Dorchester experienced three consecutive reversals for the first time this season while the Rooks climbed out of the bottom three thanks to Worcester’s 1-0 loss at second-placed Chelmsford City.

Full-back Kyle Critchell returned to the fold after missing the 2-0 defeat to Eastleigh last Wednesday but suffered a recurrence of the knee injury which kept him sidelined for that encounter.

Vickers, who also saw midfielder Harry Nodwell limp off injured, added: “Kyle’s knee was still troubling him so he came off, which was a shame. It’s an injury we will have to make sure is absolutely right before he plays again. Harry also picked up a knock in a tackle and we took him off as well.”

The Magpies will look to end the campaign on a high when they host Maidenhead United on Saturday.