ST NEOTS TOWN 5

DORCHESTER TOWN 0

DORCHESTER Town's miserable run of form continued with a 5-0 drubbing away to previously winless St Neots in their Evo-Stik Southern League Premier encounter. 

The Magpies conceded a goal after 10 minutes when Johnny Herd tucked home a dangerous cross. 

After hitting the post through makeshift striker Jordan Storey, Dorchester went down to ten men when Ollie Griggs saw red for a two-footed lunge just before half-time. 

St Neots then scored twice in two minutes through Scott Sinclair and Dion Simbie-Ferris, before a late Dylan Williams double completed the rout.

Interim manager Trevor Senior made three changes from the side that exited the FA Cup at AFC Portchester, with David Jerrard, Griggs and Ross Carmichael coming into the starting XI at the expense of Tom Blair, Jamie Beasley and Neil Martin, the latter two missing out through an arm injury and illness respectively.

With Dorchester's striking options limited, it was a surprise to see centre-back Jordan Storey get the nod ahead of Blair up front, as Senior experimented once more. 

But Storey had the game's first real chance when Luke Winsper showed great desire to retrieve a seemingly lost cause and cross for the youngster, who cracked a header straight at home keeper Josh Tibbetts. 

Having created very little in the opening 10 minutes, St Neots took the lead against the run of play. 

A good cross evaded the Dorchester defence, allowing Herd to bury a finish past Magpies' goalkeeper Chris Weale. 

Dorchester could have let their heads drop after the goal, but they responded brightly by creating two good opportunities. 

Storey made the first, his cushioned knock-down finding Winsper, whose effort was wide. The second came from a good corner by Dom Panesar-Dower, but captain Gary Bowles wasted a clear headed opportunity when unmarked. 

St Neots couldn't force another chance until Sinclair worked Weale with a low effort, but the experienced stopper easily saved. 

Dorchester continued their good response to going behind and were unlucky not to equalise through Storey, who hit the inside of the post after excellent combination play between Kyle Egan and Panesar-Dower. 

But the visitors' discipline began to fade in the dying stages of the half as Winsper and Billy Lowes were both booked, before Griggs was sent off for a two-footed lunge just before half-time. 

Senior's men thereafter faced an uphill struggle and after a period of extended pressure from St Neots they got their second on 65 minutes. 

Weale could only push a strike from distance into the path of Sinclair, and the St Neots man swept home the rebound to double the hosts' lead. 

Two minutes later the Saints were 3-0 up when Simbie-Ferris notched to effectively end the match as a contest. 

Winsper, typically, was in no mood to give up and he showed great vision to spot Josh Tibbetts off his line, with the goalkeeper tipping over. 

However, despite Dorchester's endeavour to find the net it was St Neots who registered their fourth on 75 minutes. 

And it came from the lively Williams, who lashed home past Weale as the Magpies' sorry afternoon continued. 

Sol Ayunga, recalled from his spell at Portland United, was then introduced to the fray in place of the quiet Jerrard as Senior shuffled his pack.

Yet it was winger Williams who almost added a fifth when his goalbound effort was cleared by the Dorchester defence. 

After that piece of good work, the Magpies were helpless to prevent the Saints hitting a fifth goal via the penalty spot when Carmichael was adjudged to have brought down Williams in the area.

Williams then stepped up to convert, despite Weale managing to claw a fingertip on the ball. 

Blair was introduced with six minutes remaining as the visitors searched for a consolation, but despite being played in by Winsper the teenager struck his effort wide of goal. 

St Neots closed the game out thereafter to claim their first win of the season and elevate themselves above Dorchester in the league table. 

Dorchester will hope to put a stop to their run of five defeats when they take on Frome Town at the Avenue on Monday (7.45pm). 

St Neots Town: Tibbetts, Herd, Parr (O'Malley 72), McDevitt (Wood 64), Bradshaw, Wiltshire, Knight, Williams, Sinclair, Horne, Sembie-Ferris

Subs not used: Watson, Hyem, Clark

Magpies: Weale, Egan, C Clarke, Bowles, Carmichael, Winsper, Panesar-Dower (Corbridge 61), Lowes (Blair 84), Storey, Jerrard (Ayunga 75), Griggs

Sub not used: Bastick