DORCHESTER'S director of football Shaun Brooks included two new signings in his side at Thurrock on Saturday but they were unable to prevent the Magpies from going down to a 3-1 Blue Square South defeat despite the hosts having a man sent off.

Brooks was delighted with the performance of Brighton loanee Wesley Fogdon though.

He said: "Wes Fogdon was head and shoulders above anything else on the pitch. He controlled the ball well and I knew what I was getting when I brought him in.

"I know that he is feisty and very very game - the sort of player we want to recruit at this football club.

"If he likes us and we like him then I will talk to Dean Wilkins, the manager at Brighton, about having him on board for a little longer.

"But I thought he was outstanding today. For someone to drop down from League One and to show the sort of commitment and determination like he did I thought was outstanding."

Another new man, Nathan Simpson, also made his debut after signing non-contract terms. The former Torquay United left-back had previously impressed in a pre-season outing with Dorchester.

Brooks was clear where the blame lay for his side's defeat at Ship Lane.

He said: "The first goal was the killer. We started off unbelievably poorly, not heading the ball in the right-back position and from there we never got out of danger.

"We were off our stride but if the right-back heads the ball in the first five seconds and we get on our front foot then we can get ourselves into the game.

"So it was a lack of focus and a lack of concentration and we were then always playing catch up."

Brooks has stated that there will be changes before the Magpies entertain Bromley on October 20.

He said: "We will find the right players to take this club where it wants to go. I am well aware that we need a front player. We lack a presence at the moment.

"We've tried to play with two wide players but if you are going to have footballers in the team then you've got to be brave enough to pass the ball which they failed to do in the first half.

"We need to do better and we will do better. We'll take no prisoners now in moving this club forward."