Magpies stretch unbeaten run (From Dorset Echo)

Magpies stretch unbeaten run

9:07am Wednesday 14th December 2011 in Match Reports By Ky Capel

BROMLEY 0 Dorchester TOWN 0

DORCHESTER Town stretched their unbeaten run to eight Blue Square Bet South outings as they were held to a goalless draw at beleaguered Bromley.

The hosts went into last night’s clash on the back of nine successive defeats in all competitions.

But they managed to stop the rot and record their first clean sheet since early September.

The Magpies meanwhile, remain undefeated under new boss Alan Knight and now sit seventh in the table – but having played more games than anyone else in the division.

Reflecting on the stalemate, Knight said: “It wasn’t the greatest of the games but that was partly due to the conditions. It was blustery, cold and the pitch was quite bobbly so it was difficult to get the ball down and play, but the boys defended admirably.

“After giving away three goals against Farnborough last week it was good to get back to being nice and solid at the back.

“We had two or three chances that fell for us but it was just one of those days where it wasn’t going to go in.

“Hopefully we’ll have a bit more luck in front of goal at Dartford on Saturday.”

The Magpies made three changes to their starting XI following last week’s 3-3 draw with Farnborough.

Neil Martin, Nick Crittenden and Ashley Nicholls were all restored at the expense of Jake Smeeton, Harrison Bell and the half-fit Jamie Symes.

The latter duo took a place on the bench, alongside returning keeper Nic Jones and Nathan Walker’s younger brother Steven, but Smee-ton was absent from the match-day squad due to illness.

Chances were very much at a premium in the first half as both sides cancelled each other out at Hayes Lane.

Dorchester did though force a number of corners while Bromley’s Rob Gillman produced a fine block to prevent Rico Wilson adding to his tally of three goals in his last two games.

Unsurprisingly, it remained goalless at the break and clear-cut opportunities continued to be in short supply as the second period progressed.

Of the limited goalmouth action, Nathan Walker saw a header saved by Tommy Forecast and Ben Dicken-son shot wide before also being denied by the home gloveman, with Steve Devlin failing to hit the target from the resulting corner.

The Magpies had to keep their wits about them at the other end and with just seven minutes to go, Alan Walker-Harris was finally called into serious action, making an excellent stop from Lewis Taylor’s header.

Despite enjoying the lion’s share of the encounter, the county town ou-tfit were forced to settle for a point.

Bromley: Forecast, Parmenter (Hen-riques 85), Harwood, Warren, Swaibu, Gillman, Hill (Rhule 72), Ibrahima, Araba, Taylor, Smith. Subs not used: Dolan, Jones, Sekajja.

Magpies: Walker-Harris, Critchell, Martin, Jermyn, N Walker, Gleeson, Crittenden, Nicholls, Wilson (Dovell 71), Dickenson, Devlin. Subs not used: Symes, Bell, S Walker, Jones.

Attendance: 223