GRAHAM Kemp admitted it was like the Magpies had “won a cup final” when describing the atmosphere in the Dorchester dressing room after Saturday’s superb 2-1 victory over Corby Town.

Goals from Andy Robinson and Dan Smith earned Kemp’s men a much-needed three points at the Avenue, as second-placed Corby’s run of seven matches without defeat in the league was ended.

Kemp, whose team’s next game in the Evo-Stik Premier Division is not until the first weekend in December, felt the Magpies were worthy winners on the day – and he was delighted with the impact made by new loan signing Robbie Matthews.

The experienced striker had a hand in Smith’s second-half strike and only a linesman’s flag denied him a goal on his debut in the first period.

“Robbie coming in has given us a boost because we have been lacking that sort of player,” said Kemp.

“It was there for everyone to see, and that’s no disrespect to anyone who was here before.

“He is a proper centre forward. He is mobile, good in the air, strong, and can play a little bit as well.

“He’s no slouch pace-wise either and is quicker than I thought.”

Spencer Weir-Daley’s late effort gave Corby hope, but unlike the previous Saturday when Kemp’s side threw away a two-goal lead against Cambridge City, they saw the game out without too many scares.

“Getting across the line is the hardest thing,” added Kemp. “We let one in with seven or eight minutes to go and had made all our substitutions to shore the team up.

“We lacked attacking options so it was just a case of hanging on.

“But we didn’t capitulate and I thought we were quite comfortable other than a few hairy moments when they chucked the ball into the box.

“They really didn’t open us up in the whole 90 minutes. They hit the bar from a free-kick and probably had two more shots in the rest of the game.

“Our second goal came against the run of play, but I felt we had enough chances to have gone two or three up in the first half.”

He continued: “The atmosphere in the changing room was great, it was like we had won a cup final, and quite rightly because it’s been a tough few weeks.

“Since the Bristol Rovers game it has been tough, but the players have stuck together, no-one has turned on anybody, and they’ve done okay.”

And commenting on Robinson’s exquisite finish which put Dorchester in front on 21 minutes, he said: “The goal was worth the entrance fee on its own – it was a cracking goal.

“He does it in training and we knew where the ball was going when he hit it because he does it in training all the time.

“We did say to him he hadn’t scored enough but he’s got three in 10 now and for a midfielder that’s okay.”