DORCHESTER Town pulled off a dramatic injury-time win at Walton Casuals, but what were the main talking points from their 3-2 win?

DUE AN OWN GOAL
DORCHESTER have conceded an own goal in each of their past two games – a 7-1 win at Merthyr Town and the 4-1 victory over Basingstoke.

The Magpies were therefore due to receive one in their favour soon by law of averages, but the timing with which it came was momentous.

A 94th-minute winner against relegation rivals? Dorchester will take that all day long and Callum Brooks’ men now sit 12th.

UNSTOPPABLE EGAN
KYLE Egan has quietly been returning to top form in recent weeks after a patchy first half of the season.
However, at Walton Casuals, the right-back delivered arguably his best display of the campaign.

Up against a side known for their deployment of wingers, Egan defended resolutely and attacked with intent to the extent that the Stags could not live with the former Exeter man.

Egan raided forward time and again, staking a claim in two of Dorchester’s goals. His shot, which was saved by home keeper Denzel Gerrar, led to Antonio Diaz netting the visitors’ second.

And, in stoppage time, his stirring run and teasing cross was diverted into the net for an own goal, capping a fine performance.

MIDFIELDER SHUFFLE
MANAGER Callum Brooks made the second signing of his tenure when bringing in James Granger, a former Basingstoke midfielder.

His arrival looks set to replenish Brooks’ midfield options as Noah Keats will to return to parent club Truro City after playing the final game of his one-month stay at the Clayson.

Granger had little time to make an impression at Casuals, coming on for his debut in the 90th minute, but will have his crosshairs locked on staking a claim for a place at Dorchester next season.

Keats, meanwhile, warmed to the task at his new club after a slow start, scoring twice at Merthyr and creating several chances at Walton.

THREE ON THE BOUNCE
PURPLE patches have not been frequent for Dorchester this season but the Magpies have now registered three consecutive wins for the second time.

Dorchester’s December yielded three outstanding away wins in a row as Gosport were seen off 4-1, Staines thrashed 6-1 and Eastbourne thumped 4-0.

Now, Brooks’ men have collected nine points from nine thanks to the aforementioned triumphs over Merthyr, Basingstoke and Walton. 

The Magpies are on a roll and currently sit third in the form table behind table-toppers Weymouth and Hartley Wintney.

AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM?
SUCH has been Dorchester’s upturn in fortunes, the county town side are just nine points off the play-offs and eight adrift of the relegation zone.

With six games left and seven places to make up, any talk of a late assault on the play-offs is premature but that won’t stop Magpies’ fans from dreaming.

It may also provoke thoughts of what could’ve been, particularly if a wretched run of home form earlier in the season was ironed out sooner.