DORCHESTER 3

Smith 23, Watson 25pen, Lanahan 44

BANBURY 1

Howards 5

DORCHESTER Town won in the league for the first time since November as they saw off 10-man Banbury United at the Avenue this afternoon.

The hosts, playing under the guidance of Nick Crittenden and Stuart Heath after Graham Kemp’s departure during the week, came from behind to clinch the three points.

Banbury were leading through an early Leam Howards goal when Joel Meade was sent off for a professional foul.

Goals from Dan Smith and Ben Watson, the second a penalty, then saw the Magpies turn the game around in the space of two minutes, much to the delight of the home fans and new player-manager Mark Jermyn, who will be officially in charge of the team when they go to Truro next Saturday.

Sam Lanahan netted a third on the stroke of half-time to seal Dorchester’s first Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division win in nine attempts, this one coming against the side a place below them near the foot of the table.

With Matt Oldring suspended and loanee Mason Walsh having gone back to Bournemouth, Oakley Hanger and Craig Michie came into the Magpies' starting line-up.

It was a first appearance of the season for Michie, while Connor Does took Alex Godfrey's place on the bench following the defeat at Chippenham in midweek.

Nathan Walker, with three goals in the last two games, continued up front alongside Watson, who was playing his first match back at the Avenue since rejoining the club from Bideford.

And if it hadn’t been for Banbury keeper Leigh Bedwell, Watson may well have broken the deadlock as early as the second minute.

The visiting stopper was off his line quickly to smother the striker’s effort from point-blank range.

But, after a bright start, it all turned sour for the hosts as the Puritans took the lead.

Jordan Green twisted one way and then the other before firing a low shot which was saved well by Shane Murphy.

However, Howards was on hand to tap the ball into an empty net from no more than five yards.

Smith then wasted a glorious opportunity to get Dorchester back on level terms.

Found by Lanahan, Smith cut inside his marker but fluffed his lines and allowed Bedwell to gather.

That miss was nearly made worse when Banbury went straight down the other end and only a fine stop from Murphy prevented Howards doubling the lead.

Then, with 17 minutes on the clock, came the turning point of the game.

Having been played through on goal and with only Bedwell to beat, Watson was brought down by Joel Meade just outside the Banbury box.

The defender was given a straight red card, leaving his team to play the remaining 73 minutes with 10 men.

And the effect Meade’s dismissal had on the contest was almost immediate.

First, Smith slid in Watson’s low cross from close-range, doing what he should have done earlier in the encounter and using his left foot.

And Bedwell was picking the ball out of his net again two minutes later.

A slip at the back by Jack Westbrook allowed Watson to get to the ball a split second before Bedwell, prompting referee Louis Marks to point to the spot.

Bedwell was perhaps a little fortunate to escape with just a booking, but Watson did make him pay further as he coolly slotted home the resulting penalty.

Dorchester were eager to take a two-goal cushion into the break and they should have got when Lanahan headed a Smith corner against the bar from six yards.

Chris Dillon put the rebound over but Lanahan, who was allowed a free header, knew he had to score.

However, 60 seconds later, Smith and Lanahan combined again at a corner, and this time the latter made no mistake.

A 4-1 advantage would have been just the ticket for Dorchester and Walker had the chance to make that happen early in the second half.

But he scuffed his close-range effort, while Lanahan blasted over the top soon after.

In between those, Howards was foiled by Murphy having used his pace to latch on to a long ball.

The hosts nearly handed the Puritans a way back into the game on the hour mark.

Keeper Murphy completely miscued a clearance, Tom Ryan laid the ball back to Howards and he fired over the crossbar.

The United striker was in the thick of the action again when he went down in the box when going for a loose ball with Murphy.

Howards was clearly looking for a penalty and the referee was in no mood to even things up in that department.

Both defences were far from secure all afternoon and, with only 10 men, Banbury always looked the more liable to concede.

On one such occasion, Watson found Lanahan in acres of space but Bedwell was alert to the danger.

Watson himself then squandered an opportunity from seven yards, before Green worked Murphy at the other end.

Dorchester brought on Doe, Jack Odam and Jason Brookes in the last quarter, though their introduction couldn’t help the hosts to a fourth.

They did go close through Smith and Odam, but Bedwell was more than a match for both efforts.

Magpies: Murphy 6, Hanger 6, Michie 6 (Doe 69, 5), Gleeson 6, Dillon 6, Smeeton 7, Lanahan 7 (Brookes 81, 4), Morgan 6, Watson 7 (Odam 77, 5), Walker 7, Smith 7. Subs not used: Peart, Walker-Harris.

Banbury: Bedwell, Cray, M Martin, Meade, Tappin, Ryan, Green, Westbrook, Howards (Eminoglu 74), Walcott, Whitehead. Subs not used: Browne, D Martin, White.

Bookings: Magpies – Morgan (foul, 54)

Banbury – Bedwell (foul, 24), Ryan (foul, 29)

Sent off: Banbury – Meade (professional foul, 17)

Referee: Louis Marks (Denmead)

Attendance: 433