WESTON-SUPER-MARE 6

Randall 6, Howe 12, 84, Laird 31, 38, 50

DORCHESTER TOWN 0

DORCHESTER Town suffered a dismal 6-0 defeat at the hands of Weston-super-Mare in a one-sided BetVictor Southern Premier South clash at the Optima Stadium.

At times, Dorchester failed to show the desire to earn three points as their work rate, a bastion of the Callum Brooks regime, disappeared.

What resulted was the Magpies’ biggest defeat since January, when Farnborough also beat the county town side 6-0.

Weston took the lead as early as the sixth minute through Joel Randall, before Owen Howe quickly doubled the hosts’ lead.

The Seagulls missed several chances for a third before Scott Laird scored the first of a 19-minute treble either side of half-time with a superb free-kick.

Laird tucked home for 4-0 before Howe hit the woodwork in a gruesome first half for the Magpies.

Laird bagged his third with a long-range drive before Howe completed the dismantling with a simple finish six minutes from time.

Dorchester made four changes to the side that began last weekend’s late 2-1 loss at Tiverton.

There was no place in the matchday squad for Charlie Davis (hamstring) or Tom Blair (suspension), while goalkeeper Shane Murphy came in for the benched Nick Hutchings.

Cameron Sangster replaced Davis, Blair made way for Antonio Diaz and Sean Wright got the nod ahead of River Smith.

Joining Hutchings in the dugout were Smith, the returning Tom Purrington, Jason Brookes and striker Eder Batista – the Brazilian yet to make an appearance for the Magpies this season.

Poor starts have continually hindered the Magpies this season and this clash unravelled for the visitors before a disastrous first half had even finished.

Weston were ahead after just six minutes as an attractive team move saw the dangerous George Dowling and Howe combine to set up Isaac Pearce, the winger in turn supplying left-back Randall to fire past Murphy.

Dorchester were 2-0 down in the 12th minute when a Dowling corner found the head of the unmarked Howe who rose highest to nod past Murphy in the box.

The Seagulls were swarming all over the Magpies and Murphy was called upon to tip over a rasping drive from Pearce before Aaron Parsons headed over the resultant corner from Dowling.

Weston continued to dominate and Pearce was the latest Seagull to shy at goal, collecting Randall’s pass and bending just wide from 20 yards.

In-form Tom Bath then squandered a big chance that originated from a rare Weston mistake at the back.

After losing possession to Tiago Sa, the hosts failed to deal with the left-back’s cross as captain Greg Tindle allowed the ball to roll underneath his foot to the lurking Bath.

Firing at goal, Bath was stunned to see his effort kept out by a magnificent save from gloveman Luke Purnell, while Tindle atoned for his error by clearing off the line.

Purnell’s save was to prove crucial as Weston virtually killed their opponents off. Dorchester conceded an unnecessary foul on the edge of the area and Laird stepped up to curl a delightful free-kick past Murphy for 3-0.

In the 38th minute, a wretched first-half display worsened as Dorchester made a mess of defending a corner, Laird pouncing to blast home after a scramble.

Weston could have scored a fifth but for the intervention of the angle of post and bar, debutant James Waite the man denied, before the striker fired at Murphy.

Magpies’ boss Brooks replaced Bath with Smith soon after the break but on 50 minutes Weston were 5-0 up as Laird smacked a 25-yard sizzler home for his hat-trick.

Ironically, Dorchester played their best football of the game at this stage as Sangster saw a shot deflected behind by Tindle before Dan Strugnell slid in to prevent Howe hitting a sixth.

Sangster then fizzed a 25-yard effort at a flying Purnell but Weston replied when Waite drove straight at Murphy.

However, the rout was completed when Howe lashed Randall’s cross into the top corner in the 84th minute as the deluge of goals matched the incessant overnight rainfall at the Optima.

Dorchester were condemned to their seventh league defeat of the season and now have the most porous defence in the league, with 27 goals conceded from 11 games.

Merthyr Town lie in wait for the Magpies at the Clayson Stadium on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Weston: Purnell, Mawford, Randall, Madden, Parson, Tindle, Dowling (Welch 78), Laird (Hendy 78), Howe, Waite, Pearce (Jones 70). Subs not used: Malshanskyj, Maher.

Magpies: Murphy, Wells, Sa, Martin, Strugnell, Diaz, Lowes, Bath (Smith 48), Wright (Purrington 59), Sangster, Rose. Subs not used: Batista, Brookes, Hutchings.

Attendance: 561

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