DORCHESTER TOWN 2

HITCHIN TOWN 1

SAM Lanahan picked the perfect moment to score his first league goal of the season on Saturday.

The substitute’s late header from Dan Smith’s cross gave the Magpies all three points against a side that ended the game with nine men.

Lewis Rolfe put the visitors in front from the penalty spot 16 minutes in, but the hosts were handed a lifeline just after half-time when the Hitchin right-back was sent off.

Jack Odam, making his Evo-Stik Premier Division debut for Dorchester, levelled proceedings and then Lanahan produced a sublime finish in the 85th minute.

Hitchin replacement Callum Donnelly was given his marching orders deep in injury time for dissent directed at Winchester referee Will Bull.

Substitutes, particularly those that came off the bench for the home side, had a big say in the outcome of the clash at the Avenue.

The game was barely 10 minutes old when Ben Joyce had to come off with a hamstring strain, leading to Lanahan being thrust into the action a lot earlier than he might have expected.

Alan Walker-Harris was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first period and he was called on to push a shot by Matt Lench out for a corner after Hitchin stopper Tahj Bell saved Odam’s header.

The visitors made the breakthrough thanks to some direct running from Jonny McNamara.

He managed to entice Jake Smeeton into making a challenge in the hosts’ box that the Magpies’ skipper never really looked like winning. Rolfe comfortably despatched the penalty.

Brett Donnelly then tested Walker-Harris before Rolfe and Smith ended up in an unseemly grappling match on the floor for which they were both booked.

A second goal for the visitors could well have knocked the stuffing out of Graham Kemp’s men, and they so nearly doubled their lead on a couple of occasions.

First, Walker-Harris found a long-range effort too hot to handle but did just enough to prevent Robbie Burns’ follow up effort going in.

Burns should have scored seven minutes later. Despite reacting quickest to a rebound, the striker could only find the top of the crossbar from no more than 10 yards.

You could hear the frustrations of the home supporters as their team’s defensive frailties began to show.

However, the Magpies’ fans could have been celebrating on 37 minutes.

A corner from the left found Chris Dillon and he sent a header crashing against the Hitchin bar, with Lanahan squandering a great chance seconds later.

Hitchin led at the break but things were about to change.

Kemp brought on Nathan Walker and Ryan Murray for full-backs Charlie Davis and Josh Kaye, both of whom had suffered at the hands of Hitchin’s pacy forward line.

Then, in the 50th minute, a blatant pull of the shirt by Rolfe on Smith saw the former red carded.

And, only three minutes after that, Odam struck a pull back from Smith into the corner with his left foot.

A surging run from Lanahan forced a great save by Bell as Dorchester began to put some neat phases of play together.

Despite being a man down Hitchin were still creating good chances.

Daniel Webb headed just over from a free-kick, Sam Barker tested Walker-Harris, and McNamara put the ball in the net only to be flagged offside.

His side’s sloppiness at the back led to a very vocal rebuke from Kemp.

The three points were still anyone’s going into the last quarter and Smeeton nearly redeemed himself for the first-half penalty with a shot that flashed just wide.

But the hosts’ did find a winner and it arrived five minutes from the end of normal time.

A beautifully flighted cross by Smith was met with an equally exquisite header from Lanahan that the midfielder guided past Bell.

The Magpies saw out the closing stages relatively comfortably while Callum Donnelly lost his head completely.

Sent off for verbally abusing the referee, Donnelly had to be restrained by a team-mate as he tried to confront the official, whose final whistle seconds later was just what the home fans wanted to hear.

Magpies: Walker-Harris 7, Davis 4 (Murray 46, 6), Kaye 4 (Walker 46, 6), Gleeson 6, Smeeton 6, Dillon 6, Robinson 7, Joyce 2 (Lanahan 9, 7), Odam 7, Smith 7. Subs not used: Hanger, Oldring

Hitchin: Bell, Rolfe, Walster, Ann, Webb, Barker, McNamara, Lench, B Donnelly (Chabata 63), Burns, Smith (C Donnelly 73) Bookings:

Magpies – Smith (unsporting behaviour, 21), Walker (foul, 74)

Hitchin – Rolfe (unsporting behaviour 21, foul, 50), Lench (not retreating, 45+2), McNamara (foul 90+1)

Sent off: Hitchin – Rolfe (two bookable offences, 50), C Donnelly (dissent, 90+3)

Referee: Will Bull (Winchester)

Attendance: 401