ST NEOTS TOWN 3

DORCHESTER TOWN 2

DORCHESTER Town made it six games without a win as they lost 3-2 to relegation threatened St Neots.

The Magpies went into the day looking to get back to winning ways after last weekend’s 85th minute sucker punch against Banbury.

That 1-0 defeat, saw Laird compliment his team in his first game in charge but put it down to the fact that his side “just didn’t quite have the legs” to see the game through.

But with news on the horizon of two imminent arrivals, and a stellar performance by the reserve side who recorded a 7-0 victory at home to Bournemouth, things were starting to look up for Dorchester, who were keen to get back to winning ways to ensure they aren’t dragged into a relegation dogfight.

As for hosts St Neots, it’s been a rough week with a 4-0 defeat at the underperforming Terras, compounded with hampered preparations on a snow covered pitch setting up a less than ideal run in to today’s game.

However the squad have been boosted by three signings, including that of ex Leicester City trainee Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson who signed on loan from Tonbridge Angels.

The Northern Ireland youth international scored 21 goals for Bishop Stortford in last season’s National League South and has been brought in to rectify the clubs barren goal-scoring spell.

He was joined late Friday afternoon by Saul Williams and Jacob Partridge with manager Matt Clements looking to propel Neots up the league and away from the scrap for points at the bottom.

The Magpies started the game with Billy Mitchell on the bench and Franklyn Clarke missing out through illness. They were replaced by Matt Oldring and Sol Ayunga.

For the home side new signings Fortnam-Tomlinson and Partridge came straight into the starting line-up hoping to spark a reaction- and that’s exactly what they did.

The Saints starting brightly by earning an early corner from which Hall blazed over the crossbar from a decent delivery.

What followed was a drab first half in which neither side were able to really take control of the game.

One minor highlight of the first half for the away side was when Ben Wood put his effort wide of the mark following some excellent work by Matt Oldring on the edge of the area.

But the game went in the Saints favour just a few minutes later when James Hall converted from the penalty spot to put the home side ahead.

The second half started in much the same fashion with St Neots quickest out of the blocks. Wood found himself in space in the Magpies area but put his effort over the bar.

Dorchester could feel aggrieved when a splendid Lewis Morgan effort was tipped over the crossbar by keeper Alex Archer, only for the referee to award a goal kick to the dismay of the away bench.

You could start to sense it wasn’t to be their day.

After a spell of dominance for Dorchester, a simple route one ball from the Saints found its way over the top of their defence with James Hall on hand to finish a simple passage of play to make it 2-0.

Despite a late resurgence, goals from Ben Wood and Matt Oldring were separated by a Jevani Brown strike to secure victory for St Neots, and compel the Magpies to their sixth game without a win.

St Neots Town: Archer, Norman (Williams), Day, Partridge,Wood, Parr, Fortnam-Tomlinson, Hyem (c),  Hall (Alderson), Rogers, Brown

Subs not used: Clark, Mclean, L’Ghoul

Magpies: Murphy, Brookes, Martin, Oldring, Walker, Dillon, Jerrard, Morgan, Ayunga (Mitchell), Wood, Blair

Subs not used: Mullis, Nicolson, Proffitt, Pashen