DORCHESTER Town’s defensive form is a “cause for concern”, according to Magpies’ boss Steve Thompson.

Thompson’s men have kept just one clean sheet this season – a 3-0 FA Cup first qualifying round replay win over Wimborne Town.

In 12 league games, Dorchester have shipped 27 goals and it is away from home where the majority of goals are conceded, the Magpies sharing the joint-worst away record with Walton Casuals of 17 goals against in six games.

Thompson said that the Magpies’ defence must come under scrutiny after a 4-1 defeat to Harrow Borough last time out.

He told Echosport: “We have got young defenders in there, they’re making mistakes. You look at the goals on Saturday and the first goal’s a mistake by two players, then we lose a set-piece.

“It is a cause for concern. How often do you win a game when you concede four goals?

“This is what I said to the players in the changing room after the game. You can look at missed chances, look at this, that and yes we have had as many chances as them in the game, probably six each.

“But when you let in four goals, what chance have you got of winning the game? Unfortunately we let in four goals from six chances, and that’s disappointing.”

“You’re going to have to be very clinical to win a game like that.”