DORCHESTER SPORTS 1

GILLINGHAM TOWN 2

FORMER Dorchester Town winger Aaron Rodriguez notched a brace as Gillingham Town sank Dorchester Sports in their Dorset Premier League battle at the Clayson Stadium.

Sports were left to rue a wasteful first half as the hosts applied huge pressure to the Gillingham rearguard.

Jamie West spurned Sports’ first chance, the striker directing his effort straight at Town’s goalkeeper.

Gareth Will then passed up a glorious opening, the midfielder’s shot too central, as the teams went into the break goalless.

Defensive lapses have often cost Sports this season and so it proved once more as Rodriguez pounced on a hesitant clearance to go through one-on-one, the midfielder making no mistake for 1-0.

Gillingham were pegged back when midfielder Jamie Samways produced a stunning swivel and shot from 18 yards into the bottom corner.

West then smashed the inside of the post before Sports gifted Gillingham a penalty for a needless lunge in the area.

Rodriguez then stepped up to convert the spot-kick past keeper Antony Frost and Gillingham crashed a free-kick against the crossbar in search of a third as Sports lost their unbeaten home league record.

Speaking to Echosport, Sports’ boss Ashley James questioned whether his side possesses a “winning mentality”.

He said: “(Gillingham) were there for the taking – we played well first half but the second half was a bit of a shambles.

“It’s disappointing. But not taking our chances and too many mistakes in defence and we’ve been punished again. That’s pretty much the story of our season.

“I’m not sure if we’ve got that winning mentality when it really matters. We played well first half but we had a couple of chances before half-time to take the lead.

“They couldn’t take them and we went in at 0-0. We said ‘if we don’t go out and perform second half we’re going to rue these missed chances’.

“Gillingham had very, very little first half. They didn’t get a sniff but you knew they were going to come out second half and try.

“Unfortunately two mistakes at the back have cost us big time. It’s very frustrating.”

James also revealed Danny Critchell had come off worst in a clash of heads.

“We lost Danny to concussion,” James said. “It was a nasty clash so he came off. He was playing well, which was a shame.”

Sports: Frost, Hill (W Gould 70), P Thomas, Smith, A Gould, Watts, Samways, G Will, Quinton (Peart 70), Critchell (Ross 35), West. Sub not used: Wash

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