DORCHESTER TOWN 1

Wright 87

SWINDON SUPERMARINE 1

Dinsley 34

SEAN Wright struck late as Dorchester Town fought back to claim a deserved 1-1 draw against Swindon Supermarine in their BetVictor Southern Premier South battle at the Clayson Stadium.

Dorchester went behind to a Calvin Dinsley goal after Billy Lowes somehow missed a three-yard header.

But sub Wright popped up with an 87th-minute leveller to notch his first goal for the Magpies and claim a share of the spoils.

Dorchester made two changes to the side that began the 3-2 loss to Hayes & Yeading United on Tuesday evening.

Neil Martin and River Smith came in for Antonio Diaz and Cameron Sangster – both dropping to the bench.

Winger Ben Morris retained his place on the bench, but Wright’s return to the dugout omitted Josh Williams from the matchday squad.

Goalkeeper Shane Murphy was the Magpies’ other substitute in five.

Supermarine featured ex-Dorchester keeper Martin Horsell, previously of 2017/18 Southern Premier South winners Hereford.

Marine captain Stuart Fleetwood was also a familiar name to Dorchester fans, the forward counting rivals Weymouth among his former clubs.

In considerable need of a victory, Dorchester should have taken the lead after a scrappy opening which produced its first flashpoint in the seventh minute.

Unmarked Marine right-back Joseph Shepherd injured himself while crossing but Tom Blair played on, drawing an angry tackle from Bradley Hooper for which the away midfielder was booked with Blair in a heap on the pitch.

Shepherd was replaced by Michael Hopkins in the ninth minute and shortly afterwards Dorchester somehow missed a golden chance.

Tom Bath miscontrolled into space and teed up Blair whose peachy cross could have seen either Lowes or Smith score, only for the former to glance a poor header wide when unmarked from three yards.

Dorchester continued to dominate and saw captain Dan Strugnell slam a header against the post from a Charlie Davis free-kick in the 14th minute.

Try as they might, the Magpies could not score, allowing Marine to gradually assert themselves.

Of particular strength to the visitors was their right flank and sub Hopkins was regularly involved as crosses rained in on the Dorchester box.

A notable move for Marine saw striker Harry Williams fire a deflected effort at goalkeeper Nick Hutchings, who scrambled to his right to gather.

Dinsley then curled at Hutchings after a cute Fleetwood nutmeg before the former pounced to score.

Supermarine’s livewire Ryan Campbell crossed from the left and Dinsley arrived unmarked to rifle a low volley into the bottom-left corner in the 34th minute.

Just prior to half-time Blair was lucky to escape punishment for a late tackle on Campbell but surged upfield and crossed for Bath who prodded wide of the far post at full stretch.

Bath went close again two minutes after the restart when heading inches wide from a Davis corner, before Dinsley’s dangerous cross evaded the far post after Fleetwood’s dummy.

Midway through the half, a major moment of controversy hindered the Magpies. Blair led the hosts on a promising break but was tripped in the D.

Smith collected possession after a ricochet and slotted underneath Horsell into the net, only for the referee to have blown seconds earlier, preferring not to play a clear advantage. Davis then stepped up to curl straight at Horsell, adding to the Magpies’ frustration.

In search of a much-needed equaliser, boss Callum Brooks threw on Morris and Wright for Smith and Jason Brookes and the Magpies’ manager was rewarded three minutes from time.

Blair was handed possession on the left and his swinging cross forced an error in the Supermarine defence, the ball spraying into Wright’s path before the ex-Hamworthy midfielder coolly guided a finish beyond Horsell.

A deserved leveller could have been added to had Bath shown more composure in the 93rd minute, the striker lashing an effort near the corner flag as Dorchester picked up a first point since the 2-2 draw with Taunton.

Magpies: Hutchings, Brookes (Morris 75), Sa, Martin, Strugnell, Rose, Lowes, Bath, Davis, Blair (Diaz 89), Smith (Wright 81). Subs not used: Sangster, Murphy.

Swindon Supermarine: Horsell, Shepherd (Hopkins 9), L Spalding, Edge, Coupe, Liddiard, Dinsley, Hooper, Fleetwood, Williams (McDonagh 73), Campbell (Simpson 89). Sub not used: H Spalding

Referee: Phillip Eddie

Attendance: 389

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