DELIGHTED Dorchester Town boss Steve Thompson believes the Magpies “thoroughly deserved” to beat Eastbourne Borough 4-0 in their FA Trophy first round tie at Priory Lane.

Tom Blair scored a brilliant hat-trick and supplied Antonio Diaz for Dorchester’s second goal as the Magpies knocked out higher-league opposition to earn £6,000 in prize money and a place in today’s last-32 draw.

Dorchester’s win also marked the second straight game in which the county town side has disposed of National League South opposition in the Trophy, having defeated Hungerford Town 1-0 in the final qualifying round.

Speaking to Echosport, Thompson lauded his troops for their performance in unpleasant conditions as they recorded their sixth win in eight games.

He said: “It’s a great result, we played very well in very bad conditions. It was absolutely freezing and rained the whole game.

“We’ve been playing well lately and working very hard – that continued.

“We thoroughly deserved the win and we’re looking forward to seeing who we get in the draw.

“I would rather have a nice, big game. One of the big boys like an Orient. It’s great, we’ve gone through four round of the competition, so one of the big boys would be ideal.

“It would be a good game home or away, Chesterfield are still in there as well – a lot of the National League teams are obviously still in.

“You look at the bigger clubs where you will get a decent share of a decent gate.”

Commenting on the outstanding form of Blair, who now has five goals and three assists in two games, Thompson praised the winger’s response since returning from a four-game ban.

He said: “He’s come back really well. He’s obviously played up top and he took his goals really well. He showed a lot of composure on the second and third goals that he scored.

“What we can’t do is get carried away. It is a great run, especially away from home.

“We’ve got to stay humble and work as hard as we have been working.”

Elaborating on the Magpies’ display, Thompson felt the win signalled the “best performance” of his side’s recent good form.

He said: “We’ve increased in confidence and we were against better opposition, no doubt about it.

“You’d have to say playing a team a league higher, mid-table in that league, is certainly the best result and probably the best performance.”

Asked what impressed him most about Dorchester’s triumph, Thompson said: “The application in very difficult conditions in terms of the wind and rain.

“It was horrendous, not only horrendous but freezing cold as well. The biggest job I had at half-time was keeping the players warm.

“We showed tremendous application and it’s just a very good performance.”