MAGPIES 2

Robinson 21, Smith 62

CORBY 1

Weir-Daley 84

ANDY Robinson’s first-half wonder strike laid the foundations for Dorchester Town’s superb 2-1 victory over high-flying Corby this afternoon.

The midfielder’s stunning effort gave the Magpies the lead before Dan Smith added to it just after the hour mark.

Spencer Weir-Daley pulled one back for the visitors late on but the home side held out to seal a deserved three points.

Robbie Matthews went straight into the Magpies’ side after joining on loan from Gosport.

He replaced Jack Odam and Tony Rolls returned to the heart of the defence with Nathan Walker missing due to a one-match ban.

Jamie Gleeson was among the Dorchester substitutes following a spell on the sidelines through injury, while Corby included former Magpies’ loanee Elliott Chamberlain in their starting line-up.

Experienced frontman Matthews could well have made himself an instant hero with the home fans.

The striker met Robinson’s third-minute corner on the volley but his effort was blocked.

At the other end, Corby nearly benefitted from some suspect defending by the home side when Shane Byrne hit the side netting with a close-range attempt.

The visitors then went even closer to taking the lead on 18 minutes, Wilson Carvalho smashing a free-kick from all of 30 yards against Alan Walker-Harris’ crossbar.

Corby may have looked the side more likely to break the deadlock, but that wasn’t to be the case.

The Magpies went in front in sensational style with 21 minutes on the clock.

A cross wasn’t cleared properly by the visitors and, from around five yards outside the Corby box on the right, Robinson struck a stunning effort that seemed to be heading in from the moment it left his boot.

And the county town outfit may have felt they were a little unlucky not to double their advantage before the break.

Soon after the goal, a long clearance by skipper Walker-Harris ballooned into the air off the head of Jamie Anton and Smith fired a left-foot shot wide.

Then, on 28 minutes, Nick Crittenden’s right-wing cross found the head of Smith but he couldn’t get over the ball enough to test Paul Walker.

Matthews then did have the ball in the back of the Corby net, slotting home after his first effort from Smith’s driven cross had struck the upright.

However, Dorchester’s celebrations were short-lived as Matthews was deemed to be in an offside position.

You could feel a renewed sense of confidence in the home side and the likes of Chris Dillon at the back and Mason Walsh on the left wing really made things tick in defence and attack respectively.

But after Walker had to push a Robinson free-kick out for a corner, Corby reminded the Magpies of the threat they posed when Weir-Daley was afforded far too much time and space on the edge of the box, only for the Corby man to shoot wide.

Just like the first half, Dorchester made a promising start to the second period and, had it not been for keeper Walker, Sam Lanahan’s effort with the outside of his foot would have made it 2-0.

However, the hosts did get a deserved second with half an hour to go.

A Dillon throw found Matthews, he laid the ball back to Smith and from 20 yards out the orange-booted striker drilled a low drive past Walker.

Corby boss Tommy Wright’s response was to bring himself off the bench for Chamberlain – and Wright almost made an immediate impact.

With his first touch he glanced the ball past Walker-Harris, but to Dorchester’s relief the player-manager was flagged offside.

Matthews showed his versatility by switching to centre-back when Graham Kemp brought on Odam for Rolls.

Goalscorer Smith might have put the result beyond doubt with 11 minutes left, though when he picked up a Crittenden cross at the far post his shot flew over the crossbar.

A week earlier, Dorchester had squandered a two-goal cushion against Cambridge City, and when Weir-Daley stabbed home from a corner with six minutes to go there was a chance the same could happen again.

But, in truth, if any side was going to score again it was Dorchester, who were full value for their three points.

Magpies: Walker-Harris, Hanger, Oldring, Rolls (Odam 71), Dillon, Robinson, Crittenden (Murray 81), Lanahan, Matthews, Smith, Walsh (Gleeson 77). Subs not used: Brookes, Parrett.

Corby: Walker, Kennedy, Bentley (Malone 36), Anton, Appleton, Byrne (May 76), Milnes, Taylor, Chamberlain (Wright 65), Weir-Daley, Carvalho. Subs not used: Hartley, Clark.

Bookings: Magpies – Hanger (dissent, 55), Gleeson (unsporting behaviour, 90+2). Corby – Taylor (unsporting behaviour, 90+2).

Referee: Stacey Woodley (Tidworth).

Attendance: 290