DORCHESTER Town’s renaissance under boss Callum Brooks continued as the Magpies earned their seventh point in three games after a convincing 4-1 win over Basingstoke Town, but what were the main talking points?

RODRIGUEZ RETURNS

AFTER patiently waiting almost three months for a start, Aaron Rodriguez marked his return to the starting XI with two deadly finishes.

A wait of 15 games since his previous start against Wimborne on December 29 has clearly not dampened the winger’s goalscoring touch and his first strike was a moment of genuine quality.

With his back to goal, Rodriguez collected a precisely-lofted Antonio Diaz cross and turned in one motion before smashing past Dragons’ keeper Tom McGill.

Man-of-the-match Rodriguez now has six goals this season – half of them coming against Basingstoke.

LETHAL SEYMOUR

QUIETLY and unassumingly ticking along is Dorchester’s red-hot striker Ben Seymour.

The Exeter loanee has scored in every game since Brooks took over and now has 20 goals for the season – 13 in the league.

Against Basingstoke, Seymour did a good job of linking up play and did so unselfishly, sacrificing position in the box to help set up teammates.

Consequently, the marksman only had two major chances and the teenager demonstrated his deadly finishing by burying both. The Grecian now has four goals in three games.

LUCKLESS DIAZ

ANTONIO Diaz did everything but score against Basingstoke, but did claim two assists – three if winning the penalty for Dorchester’s third goal is accounted for.

A difficult flicked chance and an opportunity from a narrow angle was all the Spaniard had to feed on in the first half and only the post and a goal-line clearance kept the midfielder at bay in the second.

Busy as always, Diaz terrorised the Dragons’ defence, who instantly backed off him in central areas. Had Rodriguez and Seymour not bagged braces, Diaz would on any other day be a candidate for man of the match.

OWN GOALS

DORCHESTER collected their second straight win after a stupendous 7-1 thrashing of Merthyr in midweek and have now scored 13 goals in two games.

No, my maths is not wrong – the Magpies have netted two own goals in two games.

Callum Rose was the latest Dorchester player to score past goalkeeper Nick Hutchings, who could be forgiven for making a case of friendly fire in the Basingstoke win.

Rose was retreating when Sam Smart’s sharp low cross whistled across the six-yard box and the centre-back emphatically turned the ball past Hutchings with little else he could do.

PERFORMANCE BREEDS ATMOSPHERE

OFF the pitch, a relative lack of chanting has this season been noticeable among the Dorchester faithful, who are normally a chirpy bunch.

Magpies’ fans can be excused as performances at home have been little to be enthused about, particularly when Dorchester took one win from 13 games earlier this campaign.

But Brooks’ introduction has helped bring the home crowd to life and an energetic, entertaining display stirred what was easily the best atmosphere outside of the Weymouth derby this season.

Dorchester, players and fans alike, will be hoping for more of the same in their remaining home fixtures.