DORCHESTER Town boss Robbie Herrera admitted the 2-1 defeat to Taunton Town was a “strange one” having dominated the game for long spells.

Herrera will be encouraged by another promising performance from the Magpies, which culminated in a superb second-half showing.

Sam Bayston gave Dorchester the lead before keeper Gerard Benfield dropped a cross, enabling Ollie Chamberlain to nod home.

Sixty second later, Chamberlain grabbed his brace with a fine curling shot.

However, Dorchester had Taunton – one of the favourites for promotion – hemmed in during the second half and were awarded a last-gasp penalty when Ioan Richards fouled Bayston.

Tom Purrington stepped up to take the spot-kick but blazed over, Taunton boss Rob Dray admitting his side had dodged a bullet in his post-match interview.

READ MORE: Taunton Town 2-1 Dorchester Town - match report

Speaking to Echosport, Herrera said: “It was another strange one, but it’s happened and we just have to take the positives out of it again.

“We’ve gone there against a team that’s fancied and has a bigger budget than we’ve got.

“But we allowed two quick goals in succession. I’m not going to have a go at (Benfield) because he’s come for all the crosses and been great for us so far.

“Sixty seconds later there’s a long ball over the top that we should’ve dealt with and we’ve let it bounce.

“We’ve got outmuscled on it but take nothing away from the finish. It was another goal we could’ve done something about.

“For the rest of the half it was fairly even, then second half we were camped in their half.

“Although we didn’t test their keeper, we were putting balls in the box and they couldn’t get out.

“They were panicking and went to change their shape at the end to 4-5-1. They parked the bus.

“Then we eventually got the penalty and unfortunately, fair play to Tom because he’s stepped up, he’s missed.

“It’s disappointing but a lot of positives to take out of the game.”

On the penalty, Herrera believes Taunton handled the situation well.

With the spot-kick given in the 91st minute and taken in the 94th, Herrera labelled the Peacocks’ game management as “clever”.

He said: “They’ve got lads in there who are experienced at this level.

“The lad’s gone in for the tackle, it’s a foul, but he’s stayed down. He’s had a little bit of treatment.

“It’s delayed it and it’s clever play. If it had been ours, I’d have said: ‘Well done, son’.

“It’s just using your head and having the experience to slow things down.”

Dorchester will search for their first points of the season at Hendon on Saturday (3pm).