DORCHESTER Town slumped to defeat in their final home fixture of the season courtesy of Alex Browne's own goal.

The Magpies' fate had already been sealed at the weekend but Braintree still harboured hopes of reaching the play-offs so victory was crucial for them.

And the home skipper's 53rd minute error secured all three points for the Iron while dashing any slim chance Dorchester had of leap-frogging Weston-super-Mare before the season's end.

Patrece Liburd failed a late fitness test so Nathan Peprah-Annan made his first appearance at the Jewson Stadium since returning to the club he left back in November.

If ever a display matched the description of end of season affair with nothing to play for' then Dorchester's first half performance was it.

The Magpies survived an early scare when Browne's intervention from an Iron free-kick just cleared his own crossbar and the resultant corner came to nothing.

Jones Awuah almost capitalised on a misjudgement from Billy Burgess but as he raced towards goal keeper Nicky Morgan did enough to thwart to the Magpies' top scorer.

It took 27 minutes for the game's first shot on target and it was an elementary save for Francisco Ramos after Andy Porter did well to get a shot in from the edge of the area.

Brad Quinton saw a set-piece go just wide of Ramos' near post as the visitors began to exert their superiority without severely testing the Magpies' keeper.

No one got on the end of Quinton's dangerous low cross and just before the break Braintree's captain was given all the time in the world to shoot but his effort went three yards wide of the left-hand post.

In first half stoppage time Jon Docker claimed the hosts' first attempt at goal with a weak strike into the hands of Morgan.

Shaun Brooks made two changes at half-time in search of adding life to his side's display. Ivan Forbes replaced Jamie Cumming and Peprah-Annan made way for Darren Watts as the Magpies went for a more attacking line-up.

But it was the play-off hopefuls who had the first opening of the second half. Chris Sullivan beat Browne for pace but pulled his effort wide of the far post.

Sullivan was able to forget that miss just minutes later as the Iron took the lead. A Mick Shinn corner was headed into the net and Ross Edwards received the congratulations of his team-mates but the crucial touch came via Browne's head.

In the first genuine piece of positive play from the Magpies, Forbes beat two men near the by-line before cutting inside, however, his low shot was off target.

Dorchester's other half-time change, Watts, then found Awuah in space but too many touches from the Ghanaian allowed Braintree's defence time to get back and take the sting out of Awuah's shot which Morgan was able to gather.

The Magpies were now enjoying a small period of play and Forbes, like Awuah, saw an effort take a slight deflection before finding its way to Morgan.

Moments later Awuah's shot from distance had power but lacked the accuracy to match.

Ramos got lucky on 71 minutes when he came rushing out of his area and missed the ball, luckily for him the danger passed.

The Portuguese keeper then made amends for his mishap with a one handed save on the goal-line to deny Edwards' headed effort before Jake Smeaton completed the clearance.

The Magpies were soon appealing for a penalty when Awuah went down in the area with Edwards for company following Watts' cross from the right, but referee Johnson waved away the home side's claims.

With a minute left to play Browne almost got a telling touch at the opposite end of the field. Docker's centre was only cleared as far as the home defender and he flicked the ball past an opposing man before firing straight at Morgan from 20 yards.

And so the Jewson Stadium campaign ended as it started - with a 1-0 loss.

11:34pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008

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