DORCHESTER Town boss Steve Thompson highlighted Weymouth’s “know-how” as Brandon Goodship’s 90th-minute goal earned the Terras a 1-0 Ridgeway derby win at the Clayson Stadium in their Evo-Stik Southern Premier South clash.

Thompson’s comment was made in reference to the shortening gap in performance between the two sides, despite there now being a 17-place and 18-point chasm separating the arch-rivals in the standings.

The former Yeovil manager, who watched his charges sustain a third-successive league defeat, said: “I think (the gap) is closing. They’ve got a little bit more know-how than us, people like Goodship, who’s been playing at this level for three years now.

“(Josh) Carmichael, (Jake) McCarthy, they’ve had that experience of being at league clubs and coming down to this level, whereas a lot of my players are on the start of that journey.

“They’re learning the hard way at the moment with that goal and a late goal at Met Police to beat us on Saturday as well.

“The players do try and play football. A lot of them come out of academies and it’s now trying to combine that with the know-how of how to win games.

“It looked like we were on a really good run, then the Swindon Supermarine game came out of nothing.

“The last two games I thought we turned in decent performances but came out just the wrong side against two teams in the top four.

“You hope that they’re getting there, but our league position means every point’s important - it’s a big blow to lose that point right at the end.”

Elaborating on what had been a quiet derby, Thompson said: “The first 20 minutes I thought Weymouth were the better team and created two or three chances.

“After that, I thought the game was very even. In fact, when the goal came right at the end I thought if anyone was looking to win it was us who was getting the upper hand.

“You’ve only got to switch off once. We switched off from a long ball, a header was won and (Yemi Odubade) was in.

“It’s disappointing to lose the game, I don’t think the players played badly. I’d have liked to have created a bit more but I thought we gave a good defensive display after that tricky first 15 or 20 minutes.”

Dorchester had chances through Antonio Diaz and Cameron Murray, while a Sam Jackson cross hit the post.

Commenting on Jackson’s strike, Dorchester’s major second-half chance, Thompson said: “That was the one real chance of the second half.

“We had one early in the game when Ben Seymour hit a shot over with his left foot.

“It would’ve been nice to create a few more but we’re up against a team flying high, second in the league and I thought we turned in a decent performance and deserved something from the game.”