DORCHESTER Town boss Steve Thompson claimed the Magpies “crumbled” after conceding the first of three first-half goals to King’s Lynn Town in their 3-0 Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division loss at The Walks.

After the visitors created the opening chance of the game through Ed Bastick, King’s Lynn slowly imposed their superiority over the Magpies, scoring three goals in 15 minutes to return to the top of the league.

But another disappointing away performance from Dorchester leaves their away league record standing at one win from 14 games, a statistic Thompson labelled as “concerning”.

He told Echosport: “We started the game brightly for 10 minutes but it’s just that they took the ascendancy and we crumbled a little bit when they got the first goal, which hasn’t happened much.

“The only time that really happened before was Hereford or Hitchin. It’s important when we go 1-0 down to realise that the game isn’t over.

“It’s a little bit concerning because we’ve played so well at home and we did play well at Weymouth, but then that’s only down the road.

“It’s not like we’re playing in front of a crowd that are so big and vociferous that we get swallowed up in it.

“I can’t think of any reason other than mental strength. It’s the same game of football and we have to be prepared to play well. I felt our preparation was fine.”

Reflecting on the match, Thompson paid credit to King’s Lynn after they returned to the league’s summit.

He said: “We were second best, they picked up the pace. We made a couple of elementary errors for the second and third goals. If we’d have gone in 1-0 (at half-time) we would have had a chance.

“We looked better in the second half but I don’t think the result was in doubt when they led 3-0 at half-time.

“We’ve been reasonably tight lately, three clean sheets in the last six games. Even at Bishop’s Stortford when we didn’t play well we were tight.”

He added: “Credit to King’s Lynn they went top of the league. They played pretty well but I’m disappointed with that display. When we got in (at half-time) 3-0 it’s damage limitation.

“I changed it around a bit, put Ross Carmichael on and went to a back three to reinforce the centre of defence and we played reasonably well second half without looking dangerous.”

But of bigger concern to Thompson than his side’s poor away form was the lack of chances created by the Magpies.

He said: “Overall I don’t think we conceded a lot of chances. They just had a spell with five or six chances and they scored three goals, we’ve got to do better.

“The goalie hasn’t really had to make a serious save. That’s why I’m a little concerned, obviously we have been scoring a lot of goals at home.

“To not create anything that he’s had to save is a little bit concerning.

“Having said that we created plenty in Weymouth game. They’ve got to realise they’ve got to play out of Dorset. It’s not the Dorset League, it’s a semi-national league.”

With Phil Ormrod out injured and Archie Collins ill, Thompson admitted he had talked to “14 or 15” strikers in recent weeks, without making a signing, to address the problem.

He said: “I must have talked to 14 or 15 but they don’t want to drop to that level or join the club. That’s shown up in the last three (away) games.

“When we did have a centre forward against Weymouth we did create stuff.

“It’s probably the bigger cause for concern. I don’t think we’ve been whooped but the big concern is not creating chances.”