Magpies held but unbeaten run goes on (From Dorset Echo)

Magpies held but unbeaten run goes on

6:32pm Saturday 6th February 2010 in

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Dorchester 0 BROMLEY 0

DORCHESTER Town were denied a third straight win in Blue Square South but succeeded in stretching their unbeaten run to five games – the first time they have achieved such a feat since December 2008.

The Magpies were not as fluent as in Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Thurrock, however, a point was the least they deserved against 10th-placed Bromley.

Nick Crittenden was thwarted by the woodwork late on at the Jewson Stadium while Warren McBean wasted a glorious chance for the visitors shortly before the final whistle.

Dorchester’s cause was not helped prior to kick-off with Ashley Vickers forced to make three changes following the midweek victory.

Unwell duo Ryan Moss and Mark Jermyn were replaced by the returning Jamie Gleeson and striker Sam Charles – handed his first start – while keeper Regan Coward made an earlier than expected comeback as Simon Evans picked up a knock in the pre-match warm-up.

Despite having to tinker with a winning side, the caretaker-boss saw his charges come racing out of the blocks.

Steve Devlin did well to win a corner and the set-piece, taken by James Coutts, was headed back across goal by Nathan Walker for defensive partner Kevin Hill.

The skipper’s header was dropped by keeper Gareth Williams but Jules Emati-Emati’s follow-up was hacked off the line by a Bromley defender.

The visitors appeared unfazed and saw Ashley Carew force a fifth-minute stop from Coward.

A somewhat frantic opening soon petered out with the most entertaining moment of the next quarter-hour coming from a Hill challenge that was more suited to the opening day of the Six Nations.

Bromley created their a decent opening three minutes before the half-hour mark when a Steven Ferguson cross was missed by Coward but hooked wide by defender Jerrome Sobers with the goal gaping.

Walker came close to opening his account for the home side in the 36th minute, only to see his looping header, from a Coutts free-kick, tipped over by a retreating Williams.

The Magpies suffered a blow at the half-time interval as Hill was unable to continue and subsequently replaced for the start of the second period.

And Bromley looked to take immediate advantage with Ryan Hall trying his luck straight from the kick-off.

Salifou Ibrahima should have done better moments later but only succeeded in getting himself in a right tangle.

Dorchester’s first real attack of the second half didn’t arrive until the 63rd minute and saw two substitutes combine.

Ryan Hill crossed for Neil Martin but the latter couldn’t keep his header down and it sailed over the top.

Coward then got a strong hand on Hall’s left-sided delivery with Carew ready to pounce.

Chances were becoming a rare commodity but on 75 minutes the Magpies came within a lick of paint of taking the lead.

Crittenden dug out a low drive from just inside the Bromley box and was unlucky to see his strike come back off a post.

With six minutes to go, a Devlin corner caused pandemonium in the visitors’ six-yard area and somehow the Lilywhites managed to stay on level terms following a goalmouth scramble.

Seconds later, from another Devlin delivery, Walker headed over from close-range.

The hosts appeared on top in the latter stages but a Bromley breakaway had hearts in mouths.

McBean raced clear, the linesman’s flag stayed down and he was left one-on-one with Coward.

Luckily for the county town outfit, the Lilywhites’ frontman rolled his effort wide of the far post.

In the final minute of normal time, Emati-Emati seemed to have released Crittenden but the home winger was forced wide and the chance evaporated, along with any hopes of a third successive win.

The Magpies though, who remain nine points clear of danger, will aim to make it six games unbeaten when they visit Chelmsford City on Monday night.

Dorchester: Coward, Bowles, Critchell, Gleeson, Walker, K Hill (Martin 46), Crittenden, Coutts (R Hill 62), Charles (Groves), Emati-Emati, Devlin. Subs not used: Nodwell, Evans.

Bromley: Williams, Greene, Dunk (Dolby 65), Daly, Sobers, Gillman, Carew (Ruggles 70), Ibrahima (I’Anson 60), McBean, Hall, Ferguson. Subs not used: Davis, Henriques.