DORCHESTER TOWN 1 TRURO CITY 2

THE Magpies may have come up just short at the Avenue tonight but football takes a back seat when you consider the heartache the club and family of Alex Legge are going through.

Dorchester’s players tried their best to honour their late kitman and friend with a performance he would have been proud of, while the home fans let their voices do the talking with chants of “there’s only one Alex Legge” ringing out loudly during the game.

And on an emotionally-charged night, a minute’s silence in honour of the hugely popular Legge, who passed away on the morning of the game, was impeccably observed by everyone inside the ground.

On the pitch, Kyle Critchell, Steve Walker, Jamie Gleeson and Ben Joyce returned to the Mag-pies’ starting line up at the expense of Dan Godfrey, Will Agbo, Jason Brookes and Oakley Hanger.

Those four dropped to the bench alongside Nick Crittenden who was back after a hamstring injury.

Former Dorchester defender Danny Green captained Truro and two more ex-Magpies, Arran Pugh and Ben Watson, also started for the visitors.

And it was the Cornish outfit that flew out of the blocks with two chances inside the first few minutes.

Isaac Vassell had the best of them but he could only fire over from 10 yards following a rapid counter-attack.

Dorchester skipper Nathan Walker was then booked six minutes in for a poor challenge on visiting keeper Kyle Moore.

Truro’s dominance continued and Watson nearly scored against his old club, only for the post to come to the hosts’ rescue.

And after Pugh had been cautioned it was Green’s turn to go close. Callum Buckley made a hash of a clearance but recovered to block the Truro skipper’s shot.

The home side ended the first half strongly and Cann was using his muscle to cause the Truro defence a few problems, the only thing was there weren’t enough chances being created in the final third.

That changed less than 60 seconds into the second period and Sam Lanahan would have opened the scoring with a cleanly struck effort from close range had it not been for the fingertips of Moore.

At the other end, Critchell had to make a last-ditch tackle before Watson’s weak effort was saved.

Both sides turned to experience around the hour mark as Truro brought on Barry Hayles and Dorchester introduced Critten-den.

The three points were certainly there for the taking, but it would all depend on who could be the more clinical in front of goal – enter Craig Duff.

The former Weymouth midfielder wasn’t tracked as he surged into the Magpies’ area to head home Hayles’ cross on 71 minutes.

Dorchester’s cause got harder seven minutes from time when Smeeton was shown a second yellow, and Hayles almost made it 2-0 moments later.

The substitute hit A post with a header and Buckley got back to deny Hayles on the follow up.

However, in the 89th minute, Cody Cooke did put the seal on it with a bouncing shot that found the far corner.

Visiting keeper Moore gave the Magpies late hope when he fumbled a Crittenden corner into his own net but there was to be no dramatic equaliser.

Magpies: Walker-Harris 6, Critchell 6 (Crittenden 66, 5), Buckley 5, Smeeton 5, N Walker 6, S Walker 6, Lanahan 6, Gleeson 6, Cann 5 (Godfrey 80, 4), Joyce 6, D Smith 6. Subs not used: Agbo, Hanger, Brookes.

Truro: Moore, White, Long, Duff (Afful 87), Farkins, Pugh, Green, Lowry, Watson (Brett 75), Cooke, Vassell (Hayles 62). Subs not used: Tully, James.

Bookings: Magpies – N Walker (foul, 6), Smeeton (foul, 69 and 83) Truro – Pugh (foul, 32)

Sent off: Magpies – Smeeton (two bookable offences, 83)

Referee: Adam Ricketts (Bristol)

Attendance: 344

* Dorchester Reserves go to Bashley in Group A of the Wyvern Shield tonight (7.45pm).