DORCHESTER TOWN RESERVES 3

RINGWOOD TOWN RESERVES 2

THE Magpies demonstrated their powers of recovery to come from two goals down to beat Ringwood in Group A of the Wyvern Shield.

Jay Keating and Neil Mackie’s young side didn’t panic when Sam Leadbitter and Alex Roberts put the visitors 2-0 up.

A quickfire David Jerrard brace levelled the scores before half-time and Luke Brown’s powerful second-half header completed the comeback.

After the win, co-manager Mackie spoke in glowing terms of the Magpies’ attitude and approach.

“You’d have thought they had been around for a number of years given the way they go about their business,” he said.

“There are no big egos in the dressing room and they all want to help each other.

“The way they are playing is so mature and I don’t remember seeing a reserve team play at the back as comfortably as they do. They seem to be in control of everything.”

With the first team in action at Wey-mouth, Keating and Mackie could give opportunities to a few of the more inexperienced players in the squad.

Keeper Josh Lucas made his first senior appearance for the club and Mackie was delighted to see him get a chance.

“Josh has been travelling with us as a back-up keeper,” said Mackie. “He was nervous before the Ringwood match but the team got behind him and he had a solid game. It was quite refreshing to see how professional the other lads were in helping him.”

There was nothing Lucas could do about Leadbitter’s opening goal or Roberts’ headed second.

Dorchester found their rhythm and two strikes in as many minutes from Jerrard made it 2-2.

Brown settled the tie in the second half with a neat finish at the far post.

Magpies: Lucas, Brown, Hanger, Walters, Williams, Taylor, Sabine (Smith), Huckstepp, Neate (Old), Jerrard (Bertie), Frohlish. Subs not used: Lowes, Diaz