DORCHESTER Town boss Callum Brooks believes a lack of confidence betrayed the Magpies in the first half of their 3-2 loss to Hartley Wintney in the BetVictor Southern Premier South.

Wintney pounced on a defensively poor Dorchester side, twice failing to defend corners, to open a 2-0 lead through Alexandru Albert and Jack Ball, before Tom Bird’s swerving 30-yard stunner proved the matchwinner.

Late goals from Tom Blair and Tom Bath were ultimately insufficient to claim a point as Dorchester’s spirited finish failed to yield a third goal.

Speaking to Echosport after a fourth successive defeat, Brooks gave no excuses.

He said: “We were miles off it in the first half. They looked a yard quicker, stronger, more powerful and had more of a will to get on the ball and make things happen.

“It was vital for us, with the way results have gone lately, that we didn’t fall behind. As we approached half-time, as bad as we’d been, I thought from 25 to 40 minutes we showed some signs of recovery.

“Some of it would be down to players lacking confidence, and it looked like we’d navigated through a very difficult first half where we were second best all over the park.

“Then, we don’t take care of our responsibilities on a set play and we go in 1-0 down.”

After a stern team-talk, Brooks felt the second goal after 48 minutes was a severe blow.

He said: “You talk about what needs to be better. At the same time, you try to keep with them. They’re a great group and it’s frustrating for me, because I watch them in training and see the quality that’s there.

“I try and lift them and you come out in the second half and before you know it you’re 2-0 down with another set play.

As bad as we were in the first half we’re sitting on a 0-0 and we can build on that. But, because we’ve failed to take care of our responsibilities on set plays, you find yourselves 2-0 and it’s always going to be difficult from there.

“We missed a very good chance at 2-0, which, with the way the game ended up, possibly would’ve turned the game,” he said.

“Again, why it takes us until 2-0 to start playing is something we need to work out very, very quickly.

“I acted in the week, I brought (Tom Purrington and Cameron Sangster) in to freshen it up and I’ll keep exploring possibilities because we’re only going to move forward.”