DORCHESTER TOWN 2

LEAMINGTON 2

IT WAS hard to believe that striker Nathan Walker had been stretchered off with a potentially serious neck injury last week against Hayes & Yeading and in the following match at Salisbury, the Magpies had slumped to their worst competitive defeat in 51 years.

And yet there was Walker amazingly back in the number nine shirt helping to inspire his teammates to pull off a deserved draw against high-flying Leamington.

Magpies’ boss Mark Jermyn made eight changes to the 10-0 cup debacle in midweek with David Jerrard replacing Dory Yates in one change from the last league fixture.

However, there was a place on the bench for new signing Tom Blair. But it may well be Ben Wood who remembers this game most as it was his first goal for the club, scored two minutes from the end of normal time, which clinched a confidence boosting point for the Magpies.

Dorchester were in top gear from the outset and with barely two minutes on the clock may have taken the lead when a poor clearance from the Brakes’ keeper, Tony Breeden, gifted the ball to Mario Mateus.

The Magpies’ winger charged forward but his shot was deflected away from goal.

An astute pass from Jake Smeeton then set up Lewis Morgan whose clever lob beat Breeden but rebounded off the far post straight back to the stranded keeper.

Wood played then played a clever one-two with Jerrard before delivering a dangerous cross which forced Jamie Hood to head clear across the face of his own goal.

But for all their early pressure, it was the Magpies who conceded the first goal when Robbie Thompson- Brown produced a stunning speculative 30-yard drive into the bottom left corner.

Jermyn was shown a yellow card for shirt pulling but Smeeton cleared the resultant free-kick delivered by keeper Breeden.

As Leamington applied greater pressure, Neil Martin blocked a Thompson-Brown effort and Courtney Baker-Richardson curled the loose ball chance over from 18 yards.

A vital interception by Jerrard cut out a pass from Ryan Rowe following an impressive run by Thompson-Brown while Walker headed wide at the other end from a Wood centre.

Walker and Morgan both sent efforts wide as the interval approached while a Martin freekick was cleared.

Leamington suffered an injury blow early in the second half when left winger Callum Gittings was stretchered off injured to be replaced by Joe Magunda.

A free-kick conceded by Morgan was despatched over the crossbar by Rowe while Shane Murphy saved a Thompson-Brown setpiece.

On the hour, Dorchester introduced Blair for his senior debut replacing Jerrard but it was Leamington who should have scored the next goal.

The pace of Richard Taundry’s cross seemed to surprise teammate Hood who could only stab wide from six yards.

Murphy then dived to save another attempt from Thompson- Brown.

Jermyn delivered a free-kick from the right wing to Walker who had two shots blocked by Hood, the second by the defender’s hand resulting in a Dorchester penalty tucked away impressively by Smeeton.

Only a diving save from Breeden prevented Blair driving Dorchester in front but instead a foul by Chris Dillon gifted Leamington a free-kick 18 yards from goal which Taundry steered between Murphy and far post to restore the Warwickshire side’s lead.

Dorchester were not to be denied a share of the points and after Jermyn and Wood both had shots blocked, it was the playerboss who met a left wing cross from Martin to head back across goal for Wood to turn and fire past Breeden.

  • The Magpies will host Evo-Stik South & West outfit Barnstaple Town in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy on Saturday, October 29.

Magpies: Murphy, Jermyn, Smeeton Martin, Oldring, Dillon, Jerrard (Blair 60), Morgan, Walker, Mateus, Wood. Subs not used: Yates, Ayunga, Mitchell, Crittenden

Leamington: Breeden, Taundry, Gudger, Pond, Hood, Mace, Baker-Richardson, Edwards, Rowe (Obeng 83), Thompson-Brown, Gittings (Magunda 53). Subs not used: George, James, Quinn

Bookings: Dorchester – Jermyn 20 (pushing), Smeeton 60 (foul) Leamington – Pond 60 (foul), Baker-Richardson 90+5 (dissent)

Referee: Lewis Sandoe (Christchurch)

Attendance: 461