DORCHESTER TOWN 0

METROPOLITAN POLICE 3

Mazzone 14, Beale 18, 75

THE Magpies were unable to build upon their high-scoring 7-0 midweek Dorset Senior Cup success over Hamworthy and could not find any way past a well marshalled Metropolitan Police defence, succumbing to a 3-0 loss at the Clayson Stadium.

Despite dominating second-half play after a poor first half of their BetVictor Southern Premier South clash, Dorchester’s wretched league form stretched to one win from 13 games as the pressure on boss Callum Brooks reached fever-pitch.

Brooks was without the injured Tom Blair and recalled Sean Wright to a central defensive position in a starting line-up in which there was no place for midfielder Charlie Davis who was joined on the substitutes’ bench by Eder Batista, Jason Brookes, Devon Arnold and Shane Murphy.

Livewire Met Police striker, Jack Mazzone, threatened the Dorchester goal after just three minutes bursting into the Magpies’ penalty box but overran the ball enabling Dorchester keeper Nick Hutchings to dive bravely to thwart the danger. Klaidi Lolos then impressed in his approach play at the other end but could only fire into the side-netting.

Play swung back in the visitors’ favour and Callum Rose was dispossessed by Lewis Beale who quickly found Mazzone but his effort flew high over the crossbar.

A 14th-minute handball by Tiago Sa conceded a free-kick which was delivered by Zachary Chislett but not dealt with by the Dorchester defence enabling Mazzone to loop a header over Hutchings to open the scoring. Four minutes later, the Magpies found themselves facing a two-goal deficit when Mazzone fed Beale who beat Hutchings with a low 18-yard drive into the bottom corner.

Matters nearly worsened for the Magpies when Neil Martin’s foul on Chislett conceded another free-kick which Jude Molloy delivered for skipper Oliver Robinson who headed against the crossbar.

There was respite for Dorchester when a Sa corner picked out Franklyn Clarke whose shot was charged down. After a centre from Callum Rose was partially cleared, another effort from Clarke was blocked. Visiting keeper Rhys Forster comfortably saved a curling attempt from Lolos and saved again under his crossbar to keep out a 25-yard Clarke lob.

Billy Lowes and Lolos then had shots intercepted before a ball into the Dorchester penalty box from Lucas Ness was met by Mazzone who hoisted his shot high over the crossbar.

Dorchester were relieved to see the offside flag raised when Robinson’s back header looped in from Luke Robertson’s cross. A 25-yard strike from Junior Eldstal deflected wide following a lay-off from Mazzone while a dangerous cross from Beale was well cut out by Martin. Another back header from Eldstal flashed right across the Magpies’ goal and out for a goal-kick.

Immediately after the break, Tom Purrington had a golden chance to reduce the arrears but seemed unwilling to unleash a shot as he dribbled along the six-yard line with only Forster to beat and eventually only won a corner.

Lolos had a shot deflected away while Kyle Egan delivered a pacy centre which eluded his teammates.

The Blues’ Robertson and Eldstal combined to set up Mazzone whose fierce drive bounced to safety off Hutchings.

Lolos then fired wide while Forster scooped up an Egan cross and reacted quickly on the edge of his area to deny substitute Devon Arnold, who had replaced Sa at the start of the second half.

Forster was fast becoming the busier keeper and a long Egan clearance was chased by Bath but the Blues’ gloveman won the race to clear the danger.

An Arnold back heeled attempt was easily cleared while Forster gathered a menacing Lolos centre at his near post. Magpies’ fans thought they were about to see their side break through when Lolos pumped the ball into the path of Tom Bath who rounded Forster but created an acute angle and could only hit the side-netting.

Egan and Bath combined to create another chance for Lolos whose shot deflected for a corner. Bath then hit the side-netting again as Dorchester continued to press.

Mazzone eased the pressure on the Met Police defence with a low shot which clipped the outside of the far post but strike partner Beale then settled any jangling visiting nerves with a third goal sweeping in a 75th-minute left-wing centre from Molloy.

Dorchester could not find a way back – Arnold’s looping header from Martin’s cross was saved by Forster who also saved a shot from substitute Batista. Not even the 82nd-minute straight red card shown to Eldstal for a rash challenge on Martin could revive Dorchester’s fortunes.

Dorchester: Hutchings, Egan, Sa (Arnold 46), Martin, Rose, Purrington (Batista 79), Clarke, Lowes, Wright, Bath, Lolos. Subs not used: Murphy, Brookes, Davis.

Met Police: Forster, Chislett, Arthur, Robinson, Ness, Eldstal, Malloy, Robertson, Mazzone (Murdoch 90+1), Clarke (Frith 67), Beale (Appaih-Allen 85). Subs not used: Knight, Sayoud.

Referee: James Welsh (Salisbury)

Attendance: 275

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