Magpies: Dorchester out of relegation zone with superb win

THE Magpies ended the Southern League’s last unbeaten home record and completed the first double of the season over Hungerford to move out of the Premier Division’s bottom three.

It was a win as unexpected as it was deserved against a team that had not lost at all since November 8 and had flown into the top five.

At first it looked as if Hungerford would continue the form that had downed Weymouth in midweek when Alan O’Brien sped past Sam Lanahan but his dangerous delivery across the six-yard box eluded Mark Draycott and Charlie Mpi.

But Dorchester were promptly given a helping hand – or head – when Chris Dillon hurled a long throw into the box that came off James Pilling’s head and def-ender Diak John could only turn the ball into his own net.

O’Brien was the major threat for Hungerford and Draycott should have got on the end of another cross, but otherwise Jamie Gleeson and Lewis Morgan controlled midfield, while Dan Smith and new boy Bradley Tarbuck were dangerous out wide.

A second goal always looked likely and Tarbuck’s scything run saw Morgan go close.

Morgan then gave Ben Watson a chance he should have converted as Dorchester made the league’s second-meanest defence look ragged.

Goalkeeper Paul Strudley then came to the rescue when he saved from Smith after a five-man build-up, and Watson found space only to shoot across goal.

A one-goal lead looked like being all Dorchester were going to take into the second half when they would be playing up the slope and against wind.

That was until the second minute of stoppage time when Smith reclaimed possession after a corner had been beaten out. He picked out Dillon beyond the far post and Nathan Walker bundled the ball in.

Hungerford threw what they could at the visitors after the break and Mpi twice wasted openings.

Otherwise, it was the Magpies who had the chances to wrap it up more comfortably with Strudley tipping over from Walker and Watson twice failing to make his hard work count.

Late pressure from the hosts was repelled, Alan Walker-Harris making one last-ditch save from Draycott before substitute Sam Argent put an acrobatic effort over the top.

“When you look at where they are and their run of results, we’ve got to be pleased,” said Magpies’ player-manager Mark Jermyn. “We dealt with everything well.

“After the game against Truro last week I explained we should have got something and I’m not sure people believed me.

“But I look at my team and we’ve got good players there. I don’t care where we are in the league, performances will speak for themselves.

“We are still a work in progress, but it was a good performance.”

And there were no sour grapes from Hungerford boss Bobby Wilkinson, who heaped praise on the visitors. “I didn’t think a team could ever come to us and play the way they did,” he said.

“We were out-battled and outplayed in every department and let’s give them all the credit in the world. They deserve it.”

Hungerford: Strudley, Horgan, Rusby, Day (Argent 67), John, Rees (Goodger 52), Collins (Munday 52), Pilling, O’Brien, Mpi, Draycott. Subs not used: Wilson, Osei-Tutu.

Magpies: Walker-Harris, Lanahan (Murray 90), Jermyn, Smeeton, Dillon, Smith, Morgan, Gleeson, Tarbuck (Brookes 83), Walker, Watson (Oldring 70). Subs not used: Hanger, Murphy.

Bookings: Hungerford – None

Magpies – Jermyn (foul, 43)

Referee: Sam Allison (Trowbridge)

Attendance: 149