DORCHESTER TOWN 2

Wright 69, Bath 85

TRURO CITY 3

Swan 7, Dean 54, Rooney 75

DORCHESTER Town conjured a late revival but still lost 3-2 as Truro City took over as league leaders following their BetVictor Southern Premier South clash at the Clayson Stadium.

Truro seemed in control until an 85th-minute defensive error let in Tom Bath to narrow the deficit to just one goal but the Magpies were unable to salvage a point.

Popular central defender Nathan Walker returned to the Dorchester starting line-up which also included loan signing from Bristol Rovers, Harry Warwick.

Other newcomers Jamie Laird and Harry Gardner were joined on the bench by Jack Tornainen, Sean Wright and Eder Batista.

Missing from the starting line-up were suspended duo Tom Blair and Nick Hutchings while Kyle Egan returned to the side having missed the midweek Dorset Senior Cup victory.

Walker was quickly called into action to cut out a move by Will Swan as the White Tigers tore into attack. Shots from Ryan Dickson and Alex Battle were then blocked on the 18-yard line but the Truro pressure paid dividends after seven minutes when a good move a down the left flank by Ryan Law culminated in a cut back to the near post where Swan cleverly prodded home.

A foul on Billy Lowes gave the Magpies a quick chance to respond but Tiago Sa’s free-kick was headed into the side-netting by Walker who had also strayed into an offside position.

Play quickly swung to the other end where Dickson supplied a centre for Battle whose looping header struck the crossbar.

Ed Palmer then delivered another cross to Battle who this time fired over.

Franklyn Clarke then lost out to Battle who raced forward but delivered a weak low shot which proved comfortable for Murphy to gather.

Walker became the first player to be booked 26 minutes into his latest Dorchester debut following a foul on Swan. Ben Rowthorn’s name was soon added to the referee’s notebook for dissent after a challenge on him by Dickson went unpunished.

Dickson’s centre then found Battle whose latest effort was headed off the Dorchester line by Bath before a Dickson corner from the right found Truro skipper, Jamie Richards, whose downward header was clawed away by Murphy.

Dorchester’s first clear cut chance arrived in the 33rd minute when Warwick wriggled clear of two markers but faced with a one-on-one with City keeper James Hamon, overran the ball straight to the grateful gloveman.

Will Dean tried his luck from range but his shot was well off target while Egan found Bath who turned two defenders but saw his effort blocked.

Richards became the first visitor booked for an over zealous climb over Clarke ahead of a lightning break from his side which culminated in a low 25-yard drive from Law flashing wide.

Swan worked space on the left but fired wide across goal while a corner from Dickson struck Richards and rebounded into Murphy’s arms.

Clarke was shown a yellow card for a foul which conceded a free kick to Dickson at the end of the first half but the Truro winger’s attempt was deflected for a corner.

Lowes was replaced at half time by Wright after suffering a quad strain and Murphy was called into second-half action after three minutes when Law’s centre found Battle whose back header was well read by the Dorchester keeper.

City doubled their tally just as the Magpies were beginning to probe forward with more determination.

A Dorchester attack faltered and in typically speedy fashion Truro broke clear with Niall Thompson providing the final ball to Dean who found the top corner with a stunner from 30 yards.

Ben Rowthorn was substituted as a precaution after suffering an ankle knock and was replaced by Torniainen on 56 minutes.

Palmer was shown a yellow card for a foul on Bath and from the Egan free-kick that followed, Hamon punched clear.

A fierce drive from Dickson was saved on his line by Murphy just before Dorchester reduced the arrears in the 69th minute when Walker’s pass was chested down by Bath for Wright to drill home from 12 yards.

Dorchester joy proved short-lived as substitute Dan Rooney restored City’s two goal cushion with a near-post tap-in from a Thompson right-wing centre.

Palmer’s looping header deflected wide and a second headed effort from Palmer was hacked off the line before Swan fired over from a Thompson delivery.

When all seemed lost for the Magpies, a mix-up in the Truro defence suddenly presented Bath with a chance which he took with a low shot under Hamon to again reduce the deficit.

With nine minutes including added time to play, a previously unlikely point suddenly seemed a feasible possibility for the Magpies.

From a Wright cross, Bath’s effort was turned aside by Hamon while from the corner, Luke Winsper drove wide. Walker moved up from central defence to support the attack. From a Winsper free kick, Bath looped a header wide.

Dorchester were now in attacking overdrive but also became even more vulnerable to the counter-attack.

A slip by substitute Gardner gifted Swan a chance but Murphy parried the Truro striker’s attempt.

Harrison Davis struck the Dorchester upright, Swan and Rooney had shots blocked while Dickson drove fiercely across the face of the Dorchester goal as rocked Truro rallied to successfully defend their precious lead.

Bath’s appeal for a late free kick for a challenge on him was turned down by referee Craig Scriven who then booked Dorchester’s assistant manager Robbie Herrera for his protest.

Magpies: Murphy, Egan (Gardner 82), Sa, Martin, Walker, Clarke, Winsper, Lowes (Wright 46), Bath, Warwick, Rowthorn (Torniainen 56). Subs not used: Laird, Batista.

Truro: Hamon, Thompson, Law, Palmer, Mbayo (Gafaiti 67), Richards, Battle (Davis 82), Dean, Swan, Garside (Rooney 60), Dickson. Subs not used: Booth, Yetton.

Referee: Craig Scriven (Highbridge)

Attendance: 334

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