TIVERTON TOWN 2

Lewington 53, 90

DORCHESTER TOWN 1

Bath 50

DORCHESTER Town suffered a late hammer blow as Jared Lewington’s 90th-minute header condemned the Magpies to a 2-1 BetVictor Southern Premier South defeat at new leaders Tiverton Town.

After a goalless opening half at Ladysmead, ex-Tivvy striker Tom Bath put Dorchester ahead with a well-taken goal on 50 minutes.

Lewington then equalised three minutes later and, as the hosts piled forward in search of a winner, the striker notched his second header deep into normal time to break Magpies’ hearts.

Dorchester made six changes to the side that began the 1-0 win over Wimborne in midweek.

Shane Murphy, Jason Brookes, Ben Rowthorn, Antonio Diaz, Sean Wright and Ben Morris all made way for Nick Hutchings, Tiago Sa, Dan Strugnell, Charlie Davis, Tom Blair and Tom Bath.

There was no place in the matchday squad for Ben Rowthorn, while academy prospects Alfie Toland, Ben Symes and Charlie Gosney were also omitted. Oli Lowes featured in Dorchester Sports’s 3-2 loss to Balti Sports.

With Tiverton flying high after last week’s phenomenal 7-0 win over Farnborough, the hosts maintained that momentum when creating a chance after three minutes.

Forward Tyler Elliott was the recipient, collecting possession and firing just wide when aiming for the top corner.

Lewington then worked keeper Nick Hutchings into a good save before Noah Smerdon was booked for a foul on Dorchester’s Tuesday night match-winner River Smith.

The Magpies enjoyed a purple patch midway through an impressive half when Davis saw a goalbound free-kick tipped over by gloveman Lewis Williams, before the Tivvy keeper twice denied Blair.

Tiverton responded to Dorchester’s impetus with a quick double chance as Exeter loanee Josh Key narrowly missed Elliott’s cross on the slide before Jordan Bastin fired wide on the follow-up.

Dorchester felt aggrieved when Tivvy’s Jordan Dyer was booked for deliberately holding up a break just before half-time and there was still time for River Allen to fire wide when clean through as Dorchester survived.

Allen was involved again after the interval, slamming a 25-yarder into Hutchings’ midriff but it would be the visitors who struck the opening goal three minutes later.

An incisive move carved open a hole in the Yellows’ defence for former Tivvy striker Bath to plant a finish beyond Williams for his ninth goal of the season.

Dorchester would lead for just three minutes as Tiverton scored a near immediate equaliser on 53 minutes.

Tiverton’s reply to going behind had been bright, with Allen seeing a deflected strike land kindly for Hutchings before Lewington nodded home Key’s pinpoint cross.

Tivvy were now firmly on top and went close again when George Nancekivell misplaced a header from Bastin’s corner.

As the hosts applied mounting pressure, the chances came frequently. However, the Yellows passed up two more when Bastin rifled wide of the near post and Lewington lashed wide from a Smerdon free-kick.

Dorchester believed they had a second when Bath netted on 76 minutes, only to be flagged offside, prior to the forward earning a booking for alleged time-wasting.

Magpies’ manager Callum Brooks made an attacking switch with five minutes to play, bringing off Blair for Diaz, but heartbreak struck in the 90th minute.

Sub Luke Mortimore was the creator, swinging in a delicious cross for Lewington to nod his eighth goal of the season.

Dorchester piled forward in stoppage-time and, after winning a corner, sent Hutchings upfield.

Strugnell gathered possession in the box and, after flicking the ball past a defender, appeared to be upended however the Magpies’ appeals fell on deaf ears as the officials waved play on.

Brooks’ men could not fashion an equaliser, succumbing to their second defeat in three games – without a win in four league matches.

Dorchester remain in 20th place, while Tiverton usurped Poole, who beat Tooting & Mitcham 2-0 in the FA Cup third qualifying round, at the league’s summit.

Tiverton: Williams, Key, Smerdon, Nancekivell, M Landricombe, Dyer, Colwell (Mortimore 71), Allen, Lewington, Bastin, Elliott. Subs not used: Bentley, Riggs, S Rogers, G Rogers

Magpies: Hutchings, Wells, Sa, Martin, Strugnell, B Lowes, Bath, Davis, Blair (Diaz 85), Rose, Smith (Wright 58). Subs not used: Murphy, Sangster, Brookes

Attendance: 267

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