DORCHESTER Town boss Callum Brooks admitted Salisbury are “further ahead in their footballing journey” than the Magpies after a superb 4-1 win at the Clayson Stadium.

The Whites impressed throughout their victory and should have added to their tally as they remain in the hunt for a home Evo-Stik Southern Premier South play-off berth.

Tom Whelan, Claudio Herbert and a delightful Chris Shephard brace handed former Weymouth player/manager Steve Claridge’s side a precious victory.

Dorchester, meanwhile, stay six points clear of Gosport in the final relegation place with three games left, despite dropping to 15th, following Boro’s 3-0 defeat to Merthyr.

Speaking to Echosport, Brooks praised the Whites for their outstanding display.

He said: “I thought we played a very, very good side. Not only are they a good side, but they’re a side which are further ahead in their footballing journey than where we are at the moment.

“When you play a side like that it can be difficult enough. To add to that we gave them a two-goal head start and we got what we deserved.

“A positive is our destiny won’t be decided by (the Salisbury) game.

“It’s still in our hands, so we’ll try and focus on that, but we were well beaten.”

Dorchester created little in the contest, other than half-chances for Tom Blair and Ben Seymour before Lowes’ goal.

Brooks suggested the Magpies’ goal-shy game might have been down to a lack of control in possession.

He said: “If we were better on the ball in the first half, the amount of defending you have to do goes down.

“We got on a really good counter-attack position from one of their corners. We were almost four v one and we gave it away. We get a free-kick in a good area and it goes straight to the keeper.

“You compound all of that against a very well-drilled, organised side which’ve been together an amount of time and who have won a lot of games this year, you end up with a difficult afternoon.

“We didn’t play well (but) we should’ve been going in talking about some action points at half-time one-nil down maximum.

“We tried to change things because most people would’ve felt the game was beyond us. We looked to have a real go, we come out for two minutes and we’re bright then the first shot goes in.

“So, the changes you make don’t even get up and running. I think it was a little bit fortuitous. Cal (Rose) blocked it and falls to their lad – 3-0, out of sight.”

Dorchester conceded a farcical second following a miscommunication between Blair and goalkeeper Nick Hutchings.

Brooks said: “To give them the second goal like we did is criminal. It just leaves you a mountain to climb.

“Hutch held his hands up at half-time – players will make mistakes. I wouldn’t say mistakes cost us. If you break it down into many segments we were outclassed.”