POOLE TOWN 0

DORCHESTER TOWN 1

Seymour 18

BEN Seymour’s 18th-minute strike proved the match winner as Poole Town boss Tom Killick’s 800th game in charge ended in a 1-0 defeat in their Evo-Stik Southern Premier South clash at the Black Gold Stadium.

Poole created a series of opportunities, James Constable hitting the bar twice and Luke Roberts firing over, while Dorchester went close through Kyle Egan and Cameron Murray.

The result sees Dorchester rise to 16th in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South, level on 30 points with Poole.

Dorchester made a solitary change to the starting line-up that began the 1-1 draw with Taunton Town on Saturday as former Dolphins’ keeper Nick Hutchings was preferred to Southampton loanee Kingsley Latham in goal, earning his first Magpies start against his former club.

Latham dropped to the bench alongside Ross Carmichael, Aaron Rodriguez, Josh Williams and Dom Panesar-Dower.

If Poole boss Killick was looking for a fast start in his milestone game in charge of the Dolphins, his team certainly provided it in a hectic opening.

Dorchester’s Brennan Camp took a loose touch from a Corby Moore ball and conceded a corner from which Sam Griffin’s effort was blocked on the line by Callum Rose.

For the second successive corner, Dorchester allowed the ball to bounce and Constable’s rising drive was sharply caught by Hutchings.

Poole’s energy and desire threatened to overwhelm the Magpies as Moore worked Hutchings again, this time with a weak 18-yard effort.

Having soaked up the early chances, Dorchester countered and Seymour set Antonio Diaz through to test Luke Cairney, the Dolphins’ gloveman flying to his right to deny the Spaniard. Sam Jackson then headed the set-piece over.

Crafting two chances settled the Magpies, Steve Thompson’s men then constructing a gorgeous flowing move from one touchline to the other before Jackson drifted inside to supply Seymour, the Exeter loanee audaciously shooting at Cairney with the outside of his right boot from 18 yards.

Poole shot upfield after that chance, Neil Martin conceding a corner from which Constable again struck hard at Hutchings.

However, after growing into the game, Dorchester were ahead after 18 minutes.

Referee James Robinson was key to the goal, waving play on after Diaz was clipped. The midfielder then spread play sumptuously to Jackson wide on the left and the wing-back’s low cross was on a plate for Seymour to apply a lethal finish from 12 yards, leaving Cairney motionless.

Luke Roberts almost equalised after cutting inside past Egan but the winger’s curling shot drifted wide of the far post.

Egan returned the favour by raiding down the right, keeping his balance under close attentions and driving narrowly wide of the far post with Cairney sprawling.

But Roberts nearly had the last laugh in the duel, ghosting past the defender and feeding Constable, whose effort was blocked by Martin before half-time.

Poole once more came out the stronger, Constable beating Hutchings to a cross and seeing his looping header twice hit the bar before Rose headed clear.

Killick’s men continued to press and Griffin headed at Hutchings before Constable saw a goal ruled out for offside.

Hutchings had to be alert once more to deny a penetrative jinking run from Roberts before a lovely Dorchester move from front to back saw Diaz test Cairney, who was forced into another leaping save to his right.

Brooks, largely a creative influence, then tested Hutchings but Poole could not break through a determined Dorchester defence from the corner.

With time running out, Dorchester should have made sure of the points when Tom Blair’s excellent wriggling run and pinpoint crossfield pass set up Diaz, only to find Cairney in superb form by tipping his shot clear.

Poole’s best chance then fell to Roberts, the winger blazing over sub Richard Gillespie’s crisp pass when unmarked 12 yards out.

Fellow sub Jez Bedford headed at Hutchings before Dorchester responded through Murray, the tricky midfielder shooting wide of the far post after Seymour’s clever lay-off.

Hutchings was booked for persistent time wasting at the death, but Dorchester defended resolutely to earn a deserved seventh away win of the season.

Poole: Cairney, Alawode-Williams (Bedford 17), Smeeton, Spetch (Gillespie 69), Leslie-Smith, Dickson, Griffin, Moore, Constable, Brooks, Roberts. Subs not used: O Lowes, Rolleston, House.

Magpies: Hutchings, Egan, Martin, Rose, Camp, Blair (Williams 90+3), Murray, B Lowes, Seymour, Diaz (Rodriguez 76), Jackson. Subs not used: Latham, Carmichael, Panesar-Dower

Referee: James Robinson (Southampton)

Attendance: 472

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