DORCHESTER TOWN 1

Lolos 65

TIVERTON TOWN 5

Shephard 6, 43, Allen 56, Fletcher 66, Bastin 72

AWAY day specialists Tiverton Town chalked up their ninth league win on the road with a crushing 5-1 victory over hapless Dorchester Town in their BetVictor Southern Premier South meeting at the Clayson Stadium.

Following other postponements, Tivvy will enter the festive season as league leaders on goal difference from Truro City.

Dorchester, meanwhile, remain second from bottom and five points adrift from safety after conceding five goals to sharp-shooting Tiverton who gave the Magpies an expert lesson in taking chances.

Defeat means Dorchester have now secured one win in 15 league games – a woeful strike rate for the beleaguered Magpies.

Caretaker boss Jody Rivers handed the keeper’s gloves to Shane Murphy for his first start in five games while Tom Blair returned to the starting line up with former Tivvy star Tom Bath named on a substitutes’ bench which also included Luke Winsper, appearing for the first time since Wednesday, November 6 for the 2-1 win over Sherborne Town.

A low early cross from the marauding Kyle Egan flashed across the Tiverton goal and past the far post while a low drive from Michael Landricombe was scooped up by Murphy.

But a firm sixth-minute drive from former Terra, Chris Shephard, proved too hot for Murphy to handle and despite seeming to get both hands to the ball, the Magpies’ gloveman was unable to make the save.

A foul on Blair presented a free kick opportunity for Dorchester but Egan’s effort sailed over his teammates.

An Egan corner was partially cleared by the Tiverton defence but only to Ben Morris whose hooked shot was on target but lacked the power needed to seriously trouble back-pedalling Lewis Williams in the Tivvy goal.

Blair then gave chase to a long clearance and did well to get his cross over but no Dorchester player was in support.

Another Blair centre was headed clear by Noah Smerdon before a less composed clearance from Landricombe denied Blair a shooting chance while a long-range effort from skipper Franklyn Clarke flew well wide.

A clever pass from Billy Lowes played in Egan but Williams was quick to react and made the clearance.

Despite conceding early, Dorchester were now enjoying the better of play and a promising move from the Magpies involving Clarke, Morris and Lowes then ended disappointingly with the offside flag raised as Tom Purrington broke clear.

Tiverton’s Jordan Bastin tumbled in the box and was shown a yellow card for simulation by referee James Robinson on 33 minutes but 10 minutes later Bastin delivered the left-wing corner that Murphy could only punch out as far as the lurking Shephard who doubled the visitors' lead with a well-drilled 12-yard low shot into bottom corner.

After the break, Rivers introduced substitutes Bath and Klaidi Lolos in the 49th minute for Purrington and Morris but Tiverton went close again when Bastin’s lay-off found Steven Colwell whose shot rattled the top of the net.

Bath fired wide at the near post while Murphy awkwardly saved another Shephard shot.

But the third Tivvy goal came in the 55th minute when captain River Allen unleashed a stunning shot on the turn from 25 yards.

Williams then stopped a drive from Blair at his near post while Lolos worked space for himself but fired over from 15 yards.

Dorchester did produce one of the best moves of the game when Lolos found Blair from a deep defensive position then charged forward to receive the return centre before firing past Williams into the roof of the Tiverton net.

But any hopes of a Dorchester fightback were immediately dashed when Alex Fletcher drove home a fourth goal after Murphy did well to parry a Bastin header.

Bastin then scored a fifth goal with a 25-yard angled strike from the left wing, giving Murphy no chance.

Tiago Sa went close for Dorchester with a curled effort just over the crossbar while Clarke and Lolos also sent attempts over for Dorchester and Allen did likewise for the joyful and already triumphant visitors.

Magpies: Murphy, Egan, Sa, Martin, Rose (Winsper 71), Wright, Purrington (Bath 49), B Lowes, Clarke, Morris (Lolos 49), Blair. Subs not used: Ross, Torniainen.

Tiverton: Williams, Mitchell, Smerdon (Peck 76), Nancekivell, M Landricombe, Dyer, Colwell (Mortimore 74), Allen, Fletcher, Bastin, Shephard (Elliot 74). Subs not used: Riggs, Bentley.

Referee: James Robinson

Attendance: 247

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