WINCHESTER CITY RES 4 DORCHESTER TOWN RES 2

DAVE Kiteley was proud of the way his players performed in the second half at Winchester after gifting the hosts two goals not long into the Wyvern Premier League contest.

The home side led 2-0 before Jamie Beasley halved the deficit, only for Winchester to grab a third on the stroke of half-time.

Dan Godfrey’s stunning volley made it 3-2 but as the Magpies pushed for an equaliser they were caught on the counter-attack and ended the game with nothing.

After six straight league wins, Dorchester have now lost their last two though they still lead the chasing pack by six points.

“We were poor defensively in the first half,” said Magpies’ boss Kiteley. “And that was the whole team, not just the back four.

“We left ourselves open and were caught by a sucker punch for all three goals in the first half.

“Jamie Beasley had got us back into it at 2-1 then we shot ourselves in the foot by conceding just before half-time.

“Winchester had a couple of first-team lads up front and they gave Oakley Hanger and Craig Michie the runaround.

“But, to be fair, they didn’t get a lot of protection from those in front of them or the full-backs.”

He went on to add: “We got our shape right in the second half and I thought the lads were outstanding.

“I was really proud of the players and the way they took things on board at half-time.

“Alex Godfrey made it 3-2 with a world-class finish. He controlled the ball on his chest, swivelled and volleyed all in one movement, and even the Winchester management were appl-auding.

“At that point I thought we were going to go on and win it and we hit the post twice, the bar twice, we had two shots cleared off the line and did everything but score.

“It wouldn’t have been an injustice if we’d won that game 8-4 but sometimes you don’t get the luck you deserve.”

Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the second half with Jack Twyford and a Winchester player sent off for what Kiteley described as “handbags”.

The game also saw the return of Josh Tennant who replaced Conor Jevon with 20 minutes left.

The Magpies are back in action next Tuesday when they host New Milton Town (7.45pm).

Magpies: Reynolds, Pidgley, Carlile, Hanger, Michie, Smith (Vallier 85), Twyford, Way, Jevon (Tennant 70), Godfrey, Beasley (Gwenzi 80). Sub not used: Floyd