DUNSTABLE TOWN 1 DORCHESTER TOWN 0

THE Magpies suffered a blow in their promotion bid as an early Zack Reynolds goal saw them slip to defeat at Creasey Park.

Dunstable defender Reynolds netted from distance with just eight minutes on the clock, and although the visitors twice hit the woodwork, the hosts claimed all three points.

Dorchester are now four points adrift of the play-off places in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division having dropped from seventh to ninth.

While Dunstable made three changes to the side that started the win over Hungerford in their previous outing a fortnight earlier, Dorchester boss Mark Jermyn kept faith with the players who began the 3-0 defeat of Cambridge City a week before.

Duns manager Tony Fontanelle brought in Jamie Head, David Keenleyside, the match-winner against Hungerford, and Chris Vardy for Paul Bastock, Steve Wales and Victor Osobu.

The only change in the Magpies’ matchday squad was on the bench where Sol Ayunga made way for veteran Nick Crittenden.

This fixture last February yielded eight goals as Dorchester fought back from 3-1 down to win 5-3, and the way Saturday’s clash started a similar scoring frenzy looked as if it could happen again.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Dunstable broke the deadlock inside 10 minutes, and it was just the Magpies’ bad luck that defender Zak Reynolds chose the game to open his league account for the season.

Striding forward from the back, Reynolds unleashed a long-range effort that flew past Alan Walker-Harris and crashed in off the bar.

Dorchester’s gloveman was called into action a few minutes after the goal and Dunstable would have strengthened their position had he not pulled off a great save.

At the other end, Jermyn’s men almost drew level when referee Paul Evans played a good advantage following a foul on striker Ben Watson.

The ball ran on to Neil Martin and his cross was headed against the Dunstable bar by Nathan Walker.

Things calmed down somewhat after a busy opening to proceedings, with Jonah Ayunga getting into a couple of good positions as Dorchester searched for an equaliser.

However, apart from one effort saved by Head, Ayunga, or any of his team-mates come to that, couldn’t find a leveller before the break.

With no signs of his side making it 1-1 in the first 20 minutes of the second half, player-manager Jermyn decided to bring on a fresh pair of legs with Luke Holmes replacing Watson.

Another crucial stop from Walker-Harris then denied the home side a second, before young forward Liam Sayers was introduced, Oakley Hanger the player to make way.

Seconds after Sayers took to the pitch a Chris Dillon long throw was flicked on in the Dunstable area and struck the post.

Jermyn decided to come on with less than 10 minutes to go but he was unable to inspire the county town team enough for them to find that elusive equalising goal.

Dorchester will now lick their wounds before returning to action at home against Chesham United next Saturday.

Dunstable: Head, Reynolds, Hall, Talbot (Wharton), Kaloczi, Pepera, Watkins, Keenleyside, Calcutt (Roache), Gregory, Vardy (Wales). Sub not used: Okito.

Magpies: Walker-Harris, Hanger (Sayers), Smeeton, Clarke, Oldring (Jermyn), Dillon, Davis, Martin, Walker, Watson (Holmes), Ayunga. Subs not used: Crittenden, Brookes.

Referee: Paul Evans

Attendance: 159