LONDON’S calling for Dorchester Town tonight following their 2-2 draw with Kingstonian in the FA Trophy on Saturday – a game Nick Crittenden believed the Magpies “thoroughly deserved” to get something out of.

Having seen his side take an early lead at the Avenue, assistant-manager Crittenden then looked on in horror as the hosts conceded twice in the space of two minutes to trail at half-time.

But just as it seemed Dorchester’s run in this season’s competition would end at the second qualifying round stage, they forced a replay late on.

And although both of the Magpies’ goals were scored by their opponents, Crittenden was adamant that a draw was the very minimum the county town team merited from the tie.

“I felt we deserved at least a replay if not more,” he said. “We got a few lucky breaks with our goals but we certainly could have had a few more in the first half.

“In the first 20 minutes you wouldn’t have known we were playing into the wind because we were so on top.

“We created a lot of opportunities and had chances to make it 2-0 but then they caught us on the counter-attack.

“They scored two within a couple of minutes and turned the game on its head.

“From that point on they grew in stature and gained confidence, and they made it a difficult game for us.

“You can see they’ve got some quality players who you can’t afford to give time and space to.

“But I think we thoroughly deserved something out of the game in the second half.”

Given the wet and blustery conditions, and the state of the Avenue pitch, Dorchester “were a little bit more direct” against their opponents from the Ryman Premier Division.

Without the injured Jonah Ayunga, defender Nathan Walker played up front alongside Ben Watson and Bradley Tarbuck – and it was a ploy that in Crittenden’s opinion paid off.

“We played Nathan up front, as we did towards the end of last season, and he put himself about,” he added.

“He showed a good touch, he brings the ball down and gets other players in the game, and then he gets in the box.

“He wants to score goals and has got that aggression in him where if someone puts the ball in the box you know he is going to attack it.”

Meanwhile, Ayunga’s younger brother, Solomon, came off the bench in the second period to make his first-team debut.

On his performance, Crittenden continued: “He’s definitely one for the future.

“I thought Sol did well when he came on up top and caused them a few problems.”

With a small squad, the quick turnaround before tonight’s replay at Kingsmeadow is, as Crittenden stated, “not ideal”.

“There are players carrying injuries that are going to have to go again, but they will because they’re a good group of lads,” he said. “They will pick themselves up and give it everything they’ve got.

“I think it’s going to be a lot different in the replay because they’ve got a good surface.

“I think you’ll see a lot more quality from the two teams. They’ll probably look a different team and hopefully we will as well.

“We’ve got Charlie Davis back from suspension and fingers crossed Jonah (Ayunga) will be fit.

“They are two quality players and two of our best players this season, so to have them available will be a massive boost for us.”