Magpies: Dorchester have no answer for rampant Rebels

DORCHESTER Town slumped to their third league defeat of the campaign after they were hit for four at Holloways Park against rampant Slough Town.

Mark Jermyn’s charges, unbeaten in six league games going into the encounter, saw their run come to an end despite Bradley Tarbuck’s consolation effort with just more than 10 minutes remaining.

The Magpies, without Jake Smeeton and Nathan Walker through injury and suspension respectively, named new recruit Jack Alexander in their starting XI after he signed on dual-registration forms from Eastleigh a day previously.

There was however no place for Chris Dillon in the Magpies’ squad.

The Rebels also added to their ranks prior to the encounter with the additions of full-back Paul Stonehouse and Declan Benjamin from Conference South side Oxford City. Both were thrust straight into the hosts’ starting XI.

And the Magpies, buoyed by their 4-3 win at Chesham last time out, came close early through striker Jonah Ayunga. Charlie Davis then chanced his arm from range with an effort that fell just wide soon after.

The Rebels then carved out their first opportunity with eight minutes on the clock.

A free-kick from Lewis Putman was whipped into the box and met by the head of Warren Harris, who failed to keep his attempt down.

As the game went on, Rebels’ defender Stonehouse almost made a huge impact on his debut after 15 minutes.

He advanced forward and fizzed a ball across goal, forcing a superb save from Magpies’ keeper Shane Murphy after the ball hit a defender.

The Magpies then made an early substitution. Matt Oldring came on in place of Tony Lee and, with 22 minutes on the clock, Dorchester fell behind.

Following a poor clearance from the visitors, Harris hit a low drive which Murphy failed to gather and the ball squirmed past him into the net to give the Slough man his first of the season.

Three minutes later, it got worse for the Avenue side as the Rebels made it 2-0. Following a handball by Oldring, Putman lined up a free-kick from a central position and slotted into the top corner past a sprawling Murphy.

Sean Fraser’s driven ball in then caused the away team further problems, as he flashed across goal and almost fed frontman Charlie Mpi, who was inches away from getting a vital touch.

Chances continued to flow for the home side as Dorchester looked to weather the storm. Mpi was denied by a good block from Jermyn as the visitors went in at the break two goals behind.

And with it all to do, Dorchester had to call on Murphy to keep the deficit to two early in the second period.

He produced a sharp stop to deny Mpi after Slough quickly moved forward from a throw-in.

Stonehouse, who continued to cause Dorchester problems when he ventured forward, then advanced to hit a vicious effort just wide of the mark.

Nick Crittenden was then introduced just short of the hour mark in place of debutant Alexander, but moments after he came on, the Rebels made it three.

A defensive slip by the Magpies allowed Harris to pick the ball up and tee up Charlie Strutton, who slotted home his first goal for the club on 60 minutes to put the game beyond doubt.

Tarbuck then produced a chance for the Magpies as his surging run allowed him to fire an effort at goal, forcing a strong save by Slough stopper Mark Scott.

Crittenden then saw his deflected shot find the side netting.

Looking to get his side back into it, Jermyn then tested Scott with a drilled effort and shortly after the impressive Stonehouse was replaced by Ryan Hope for the Rebels.

Crittenden’s influence then paid dividends as the Magpies pulled a goal back.

The former Yeovil Town man made a clever run and played in Tarbuck, who showed good composure to round the goalkeeper and apply a cool finish to give the county town outfit a glimmer of hope.

Scott then made a top save to deny Dorchester once more as the Magpies piled the pressure on, but while committing men forward, they were undone yet again.

Mpi surged through on the counter, took the ball past Murphy, and put the ball home to provide the hammer blow on what was a poor night for the Magpies.

Slough: Scott, Fraser, Stonehouse (Hope 73), Hollis, Hicks, Sear, Putman, Benjamin, Mpi, Strutton (A Martin 80), Harris (Gokmen 88). Sub not used: MacDonald

Magpies: Murphy, Hanger, N Martin, Jermyn, Lee (Oldring 20), Alexander (Crittenden 58), Davis, Morgan, Ayunga, Watson, Tarbuck. Subs not used: Brookes, Walker-Harris

Referee: Daniel Jaceko

Attendance: 246