CHESHAM UNITED 6

D Pearce 15, Doyle 24, Clayton 52, 65, 74, A Martin 72

DORCHESTER TOWN 3

Lolos 32, Kirby og 57, Peck 85

ANOTHER wretched defensive display saw Dorchester crash to a 6-3 defeat at BetVictor Southern Premier South leaders Chesham United.

The loss extended the Magpies’ dismal league run to one win in 11 games, magnifying the scrutiny of boss Callum Brooks.

Chesham went into a 2-1 half-time lead as Klaidi Lolos responded to Dave Pearce and Chris Doyle goals. Brad Clayton then added a brace either side of a Mark Kirby own goal, but Adam Martin’s finish, added to Clayton’s hat-trick goal, killed off a poor Dorchester.

Even Michael Peck’s first Dorchester strike failed to add a positive as the hosts preserved their position at the division’s summit with ease.

Dorchester made seven changes to the side that began the Southern League Challenge Cup exit at Frome Town on Tuesday.

Nick Hutchings, Jack Torniainen, Callum Rose, Sean Wright, Connal Morrison, Charlie Davis and Devon Arnold all made way.

In came Shane Murphy, Tiago Sa, Dan Strugnell, Tom Purrington, Billy Lowes, Tom Bath and Tom Blair.

The Magpies were boosted by the return of key attributes Tom Bath and Tom Blair, the duo having been Dorchester’s star performers this season. 

Striker Bath had been managing a minor knee problem, while Blair returned to the starting line-up following a two-game ban.

Chesham were boosted by the inclusion of new Doyle who made his debut, while Adam Martin (work) was recalled.

Sam Jenkins and Billy Adcock were the duo to make way for the Generals.
Dorchester drew 0-0 at Chesham earlier this year under previous boss Steve Thompson, but there was little sign of manager Brooks keeping things tight with his team selection.

Bath and Blair joined Lolos up front in a 4-3-3 formation and, after a steady opening gambit from both sides, Dorchester created the first chance of note.

Blair was the recipient as the winger cut inside and blazed over in the 13th minute, but just two minutes later Chesham were in front as the game burst into life.

Pearce was the man to make the breakthrough, his tidy free-kick arcing just over the Dorchester wall. Keeper Murphy got a strong hand to his effort but could still not prevent it from crossing the line as the ball bounced off his glove and into the net.

Chesham only had to wait nine minutes to double their lead as Dorchester failed on numerous occasions to clear a corner.

As the Generals recycled the ball, the hosts got in behind and forced a good block which fell to debutant Doyle.

Dorchester striker Bath swung a boot at the ball in a panicked attempt to clear and Doyle punished the Magpies’ shy defence, using four players as shields to rifle a low finish across goal past the unsighted Murphy.

Staring at a 2-0 deficit, Dorchester licked their wounds and promptly halved their arrears, albeit with a scrappy goal.

Chesham this time were undone from a corner as Dorchester missed an initial headed effort before Lolos nodded in off the post past home gloveman Ben Goode.

In injury-time, Chesham had two penalty appeals waved away for what they saw as a successive foul and push on Zak Joseph as Dorchester went unpunished into the break.

A nightmare start to the second half ensued as Chesham went 3-1 up in the 52nd minute when Clayton’s weak volley sailed past the motionless Murphy.
Dorchester did pull it back to 3-2 five minutes later as hopes of a comeback intensified.

Fine play between Bath and Peck culminated in Kirby poking a looping effort over Goode, but Dorchester’s fightback was short-lived.

A double Dorchester change, with Lolos and Purrington coming off for Arnold and Davis, preceded Clayton’s second as Murphy’s horrid spill was pounced upon.

Thereafter, Chesham wasted little time in killing the Magpies off as Adam Martin fired home past a disinterested Murphy – the keeper not even diving to prevent a goal for a third time – before Clayton sealed his treble, lobbing the advancing Murphy for 6-2 after Kirby’s fine dummy.

Dorchester, to their credit, still pushed on and found a third as Peck registered his maiden Magpies goal from a corner, but the county town’s defensive deficiencies were again ruthlessly exposed as Brooks’ men conceded six for the second time this season after the 6-0 thrashing at Weston.

Chesham: Goode, Doyle, Watson, Prosper, Murphy, Kirby, Joseph (Hart 73), A Martin, Casey, Clayton (Wynter 74), D Pearce (Oliyide 75). Subs not used: C Pearce, Murray.

Magpies: Murphy, Sa, N Martin, Strugnell, Clarke, Purrington (Davis 62), B Lowes, Bath, Lolos (Arnold 62), Blair, Peck. Subs not used: Morrison, Wright, Hutchings

Referee: Jonathan Creswick

Attendance: 367

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