Treble strike sees Magpies sink Fleet (From Dorset Echo)

Treble strike sees Magpies sink Fleet

8:29am Monday 9th January 2012 in Match Reports By Ky Capel

Dorchester TOWN 3

White 14, Wilson 49, Nichols 90+3

THURROCK 0

THREE goals from as many strikers saw Dorchester Town comfortably dispose of rock-bottom Thurrock at the Avenue Stadium.

Andrew White bagged his first goal for the club to open the scoring before Rico Wilson doubled the advantage with his seventh of the season.

And to complete a satisfactory afternoon for the Magpies, new loan signing Tom Nichols came off the bench to score on his debut.

The 3-0 win, which sees the county town outfit remain four points adrift of the Blue Square Bet South play-offs, was Alan Knight’s first on home soil since taking charge of the side at the end of November and he praised the Magpies’ professionalism.

The boss said: “It’s nice to score three and obviously keep a clean sheet as well.

“It’s always difficult playing a team at the bottom. I’ve seen them a couple of times, they’ve added a few players in the past couple of months and they are just looking for that win to kick-start their season.

“It was important we weren’t the side to give them that win. Thank-fully we went out there and did a professional job.

“It could have been more and it could have been wrapped up by half-time. We stuck at it and we got our just rewards.

“I was pleased with the overall performance from everyone but it was nice to see all the front boys get a goal.”

With leading light Ben Dickenson sidelined with an ankle injury, the Magpies made just one enforced change – White shaking off a thigh complaint to replace his fellow forward.

New recruit Nichols, 18, was named among the substitutes following his arrival on a month’s loan from Exeter City.

Thurrock may have entered the game eight points adrift of safety but it was they who fashioned the first opportunity just two minutes in.

Alex Osborn broke with purpose and beat both Jake Smeeton and Mark Jermyn, only to drive his subsequent shot too close to the body of Alan Walker-Harris.

Dorchester responded and Wilson latched on to Jermyn’s long clearance before teeing up Nick Critten-den.

However, an untimely bobble saw the county town winger blaze over the top.

The hosts were beginning to dominate both in terms of possession and territory, and they managed to get their noses in front just shy of the quarter hour.

Crittenden’s free-kick found an unmarked Nathan Walker at the back stick and he nodded the ball back across goal for White to bundle home.

Walker went close to doubling the tally soon after, heading over from a Steve Devlin free-kick, before visiting midfielder Paul Terry, brother of England and Chelsea skipper John, failed with an ambitious attempt to level proceedings.

A goal-line clearance from Stuart Thurgood and a fine stop by Craig Holloway then denied Jamie Gleeson and Kyle Critchell in the same attack.

Dorchester appeared to take their foot off the gas for a short period, until being presented with two golden chances towards the end of the half.

First, Crittenden’s through ball released Wilson one-on-one but he was foiled by Holloway.

Then, with two minutes remaining, an off-balance Walker struck the near post after beating the Fleet stopper to Walker-Harris’ long punt.

The closest Thurrock came to an equaliser was early in the second period when Smeeton’s weak clearance was met on the volley by Ahmed Deen. Fortunately for the Magpies, Deen’s goalbound strike was inadvertently blocked by team-mate Osborn.

And to compound the away side’s frustration, Dorchester immediately doubled their advantage on the counter attack.

Holloway raced out of his area to snuff out the danger but failed miserably under pressure from Wilson, who gleefully stroked home the loose ball.

The Magpies then had claims for a spot-kick waved away, despite suspicions of handball as Nathan Ashton jumped with Wilson, before Hollo-way redeemed himself with a superb parry from Devlin’s rasping drive.

Nichols made his entrance with 19 minutes to go and almost made a dream start to life at the Avenue.

However, the teenager was just inches away from connecting with Walker’s flick-on following Devlin’s pin-point delivery.

With three minutes left of normal time, Nichols did manage to get on the end of a decent pass from Crittenden.

This time though, Holloway was quick off his line to foil the young Grecian.

Nichols was again denied by the Thurrock gloveman shortly after, having been put through by Critchell, but the loanee’s perseverance finally paid off in stoppage time – pouncing on the rebound after Holloway got hands to Devlin’s deflected effort.

Magpies: Walker-Harris, Critchell, Smeeton (Martin 50), Jermyn, Walker, Gleeson, Crittenden, Nicholls, Wilson (Dovell 80), White (Nichols 71), Devlin. Subs not used: Bell, Symes.

Fleet: Holloway, Furlong, Ashton, I’Anson, Baucote, Thurgood, Terry, Cutler, Osborn (Broughton 72), Guy (Hunt 46), Deen (Boylan 57). Subs not used: Bowditch, Davis.