HENDON 1

Nicholas 77

DORCHESTER TOWN 3

Papakonstantinou 27, 75, Bayston 90

DORCHESTER Town deservedly earned their first points of the Southern League Premier South season with a 3-1 win over 10-man Hendon at Silver Jubilee Park.

The result will be of huge relief to boss Robbie Herrera, who had watched on as the Magpies suffered 2-1 defeats to Beaconsfield and Taunton with late drama in each.

But the Magpies are now up and running, finally cashing in on a third straight performance in which they have impressed.

Dorchester began brightly, unleashing Christos Papakonstantinou – cleared to play after a lengthy paperwork hold-up – on goal before his shot was blocked and Harry Burns fired wide.

But the Greek winger was not to be denied his first in the 27th minute as he skirted into space before blasting past Fred Burbidge.

Burbidge was called upon to deny Sam Bayston as the forward sprung the offside trap.

READ MORE: Taunton Town 2-1 Dorchester Town - match report

Ex-Wimborne man Bayston was then denied with what Dorchester believed to be a harsh call on a potential second when the offside flag erased his finish.

Dorchester were good value for a half-time lead but Hendon made two subs, reacting to the Magpies’ superiority as Kyen Nicholas and Bayley Brown replaced Jayden Clarke and Lewis Wilson.

It took just two minutes of the half for skipper Ashley Wells to earn his third yellow in three games.

Dorchester were forced into a change of their own, bringing off Tiago Sa for George Calverley after the left-back suffered an ankle knock.

However, a key moment in game followed as Riccardo Alexander-Greenaway earned a second yellow, leaving Hendon with 10 men for 35 minutes.

Oakley Hanger shot wide and a Bayston cross zipped across the area begging for a final touch that did not come as the Magpies chased a second.

Papakonstantinou answered those calls with his brace, finding time and space to beat Burbidge.

Just as Dorchester had done on Tuesday at Taunton, the Magpies conceded almost immediately after scoring when sub Nicholas swept home a cross from the right past Gerard Benfield.

Dorchester looked nervy after conceding but steadied themselves with the introduction of experienced debutant Tom Soares and applied the killer touch in stoppage-time.

Hendon had sent goalkeeper Burbidge up for a corner but Bayston picked up the clearance, beat Lucas Perry for pace and tucked home to seal a much-needed win.

Hendon: Burbidge, Wilson (Brown 46), Perry, Alexander-Greenaway, Brewer, Hobbs, Lucien, Smith, Clarke (Nicholas 46), Semakula, Carvalho. Subs not used: Bakalandwa, Pablo, Byron.

Magpies: Benfield, Wells, Sa (Calverley 50), Burns, Davidson, Buckley, Hanger, Purrington, Bayston, Papakonstantinou, Lowes. Subs not used: Soares, Hodges, Calverley, Madden, Walker-Harris.

Referee: G Warren

Attendance: 213