DORCHESTER Town manager Steve Thompson was left feeling very pleased as his side grabbed a 4-1 win at home to Kettering Town, who were third in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division.

The Magpies had lost 3-1 in their last match away to Frome Town but the result against Kettering saw them bounce back in style, thanks to goals from Billy Lowes, Sam Lanahan, David Jerrard and Mo Baghdadi.

Thompson said: “I’m very pleased with the performance and it is a great way to bounce back after the defeat at Frome.”

The result leaves Dorchester 19th in the table with just three defeats in their last 11 games since Thompson took over.

The Magpies’ boss said: “I’m pleased we have become a lot more difficult to beat.

“But to actually go and beat a team that are in third position and beat them 4-1 is a big moment and creates a bit of momentum that I hope we can keep going.”

The hosts had a problematic start as, despite going 2-0 up, they also lost Phil Ormrod and goalscorer Lanahan to hamstring injuries.

Thompson said: “It unsettled us for 10 or 15 minutes but obviously I was very pleased to go in 2-0 up but knew it would be a tough second half.”

The Poppies got a goal back in the second period thanks to a strike from Rene Howe but the Magpies displayed their character to respond almost immediately thanks to Jerrard.

Thompson explained: “I think that was important to get that goal quickly after they made it 2-1 which we did with a fine finish from Dave Jerrard.

“Obviously we went on then in the last 15 minutes to create quite a few more chances.”

The game turned again shortly after as Poppies’ substitute Marshall Willock was sent off after being only on the field for 80 seconds after receiving a red card.

Thompson didn’t get carried away at this point, as he said: “I think that sometimes when you go down to 10 men you’ve got nothing to lose so if anything it can put pressure on the team with the 11 men because you’re expected to dominate.”

In their next match, Dorchester face troubled Merthyr Town, who announced on Friday that 80 per cent of their squad were released, including ex-Weymouth player Stuart Fleetwood, due to budget cuts.

They were subsequently beaten 13-1 by Chesham United on Saturday.