DORCHESTER TOWN 2

CINDERFORD TOWN 0

A GOAL each from Nathan Walker and Matt Oldring gave Dorchester Town a 2-0 victory over Cinderford Town, even if they made hard work of it.

Jake Smeeton missed a first half penalty before the away side should have taken the lead after Ben Hands missed a sitter.

But Walker and Oldring were on hand to earn the Magpies the three points and consign the Foresters to their 10th straight away loss of the season.

Surprisingly, Mark Jermyn, back from suspension, did not put himself back into the side instead Jason Brookes kept his place at right-back. Indeed, there was only one change to the Dorchester line-up as Lewis Morgan dropped out for David Jerrard. The departed Dory Yates was replaced on the bench by Jordan Mullis.

The pitch had passed an afternoon inspection and looked slightly frosty at kick-off but, on it, the hosts looked fiery.

Tom Blair started brightly on the left wing, cutting inside and causing mischief. He nearly opened the scoring after four minutes as he skipped past two players only to see his shot, which looked destined for the back of the net, blocked by James Bloom.

The pressure was mounting on the Foresters but, they stood firm, as Neil Martin was the only Magpie to sting the palms of Cameron Clarke, and that was from 30 yards.

At the other end Jaye Bowen was causing some problems, he had a couple of shots but neither tested Murphy.

Then came a moment to forget for Smeeton. Tom Blair was felled and, rightly, the referee pointed to the spot. It was credit to the Dorchester captain that he stepped up to take it after missing from 12 yards on Saturday against Kettering however, his penalty was weak and Clarke got down to his left to make the save.

After the miss, Jermyn turned away forlornly – that could be the captain’s last chance from that range for a while.

Things nearly went from bad to worse as Bowen skipped past two into the box only to see his cross fizz across the box without contact from an away shirt.

Ben Wood had a couple of chances to break the deadlock but, his header from close range and a shot on the turn were wide of the mark.

The county town side ended the first and started the second half on top, yet, they couldn’t make the most of their possession and should have been made to pay just before the hour mark.

Karnell Chambers latched onto a poor Smeeton header and burst past two Dorchester defenders. Up with him was Sam Hands, who after Chambers had done all of the hard work in gifting him an open goal, could only run the ball out of play. He kicked the hoardings in frustration after what was possibly the worst miss at the season.

They were made to pay soon after in the 63rd minute as the Magpies took the lead through Walker. Bassett, a bright spark as is becoming custom with the teenager, cut in off the left flank and delivered a perfect delivery to find the striker, who had just moved from the defence. He made no mistake, looping his effort over Clarke to take a lead that, on balance, was deserved.

If anything, the goal only allowed the nerves to grow around the ground. Murphy didn’t help the situation, dropping the ball in his own box from a free-kick. It fell to Josh Nelmes but the Cinderford captain saw his shot blocked.

Oldring and Chris Dillon had to make some timely blocks to keep their side ahead as the visitors pushed more men forward. However, it was the hosts who should have put the game to bed with 20 minutes to go. A Wood long throw-in went straight through to Blair but, he lofted it over the bar.

Those nerves were quelled in the seven to go as Oldring put the game to bed. A Bassett corner found the head of the defender and he powered it past Clarke to seal it, much to the joy of Jermyn on the bench, who for much of the game cut a frustrated figure.

Not only did they score twice, the home management would have been just as pleased with the clean sheet, which was in part thanks to a good showing from Dillon and the industry of Brookes.

It wasn’t the Magpies’ finest performance, but that will be of little consequence to the hosts with a much-needed victory that, for now, relieves their relegation fears.

Magpies: Murphy, Brookes, Smeeton, Martin, Walker, Dillon, Jerrard (Morgan 55), Oldring, Wood, Bassett (Ayunga 84), Blair (Mitchell 87)

Subs not used: Jermyn, Mullis

Cinderford: Clarke, John, Mcoine (Turner 77), Nelmes, Parry, Bloom, Hicks, Hands, Hill, Bowen, Chambers

Subs not used: Hartshorn, Fletcher, Michael

Referee: Graham Pearce (Melksham)

Bookings: Magpies – Martin

Cinderford – Hands, Bowen