SWINDON SUPERMARINE 1

Phillips 48

DORCHESTER TOWN 0

DORCHESTER Town were beaten by former loanee Magpies striker Kieran Phillips’ debut goal as Swindon Supermarine claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win at the Webbswood Stadium.

Phillips, who left Dorchester in October, lifted home the winner in the 48th minute as Glenn Howes’ wait for a first point – and goal – as new Magpies’ boss was delayed.

Zack Kotwica had earlier hit the bar for Marine, while sub Sam Bayston clipped the post midway through the second half.

Extensive Dorchester pressure could not break through the home defence late on as the Magpies were contained.

It has proven a tricky start to life at the Avenue Stadium for Howes, who made one alteration to the starting XI that began last Saturday's 2-0 loss at AFC Totton.

His change was enforced as the suspended Oakley Hanger missed out, Callum Buckley coming in.

READ MORE: Swindon Supermarine 1-0 Dorchester Town - how it happened

Buckley missed the trip to Totton as his parent club Hayes & Yeading did not want him cup tied in the FA Trophy.

There was encouraging news on the bench as top-scorer Bayston returned from a bout of Covid-19 and goalkeeper Gerard Benfield took a place in the dugout after suffering dislocated fingers.

Christos Papakonstantinou, George Calverley and Adam Heaton were the other players available to Howes.

Over at Supermarine, there were two former Magpies in the hosts' starting line-up in goalkeeper Martin Horsell and striker Phillips.

The latter left Dorchester after a one-month spell, scoring twice in five games, but it was his new teammate Kotwica who had the first chance.

Dorchester could only half clear a cross to the forward, who lashed a shot against the bar.

Kotwica was involved again as Supermarine made the early running, stepping inside and crashing an effort over keeper Harry Lee’s bar.

Dorchester’s first serious foray forward produced their maiden shot on target in the 19th minute.

Charlie Madden pinged a gorgeous diagonal ball to winger Flavio Tavares and hared into the box to meet the return cross with a header, Horsell gratefully collecting the centrally-placed attempt.

Lee survived a nervy moment, fumbling a through ball, before Tom Purrington skewed a shot at goal following good work from Kieran Roberts.

Dorchester then worked hard to limit the hosts’ chances for the remainder of the half in what was quickly becoming a solid and assured away display.

That was until Phillips haunted Dorchester with a goal fewer than three minutes into the second period.

His strike was created by a cute pass from Conor McDonagh, his through ball inviting Phillips to dink over the onrushing Lee for 1-0.

The goal allowed Marine to counter-attack and Kotwica shot wide on the break following a Dorchester corner before McDonagh forced Lee into juggling behind for a corner.

From the resultant set-piece, Tyrone Duffus fired inches wide and Phillips again tested Lee on the hour as the hosts strived for a second.

Howes switched Tavares for Bayston seconds later and the winger was involved just five minutes after coming on, brushing the post after connecting with a low cross.

Marine responded when McDonagh force Lee into a last-ditch save, the teenage keeper just preventing the ball from crossing the line.

Horsell was able to wind down the clock after requiring treatment for a minor collision in mid-air, catching a cross with 11 minutes remaining.

Dorchester threw men forward in the closing stages and Supermarine midfielder Frankie Artus was called upon to make a crucial block in the 84th minute to keep the Magpies at bay.

Chaos in the Marine box followed in the 89th minute as the ball clattered around off limbs but the hosts survived the danger.

Dorchester continued to pile pressure on the home defence in injury-time but Marine stood firm, ending a nine-game winless league run.

As for Dorchester, their 11th league loss of the campaign kept them in 19th place – two points above Merthyr ahead of a meeting between the two on Tuesday.

Supermarine: Horsell, Hopkins, Hall, Artus, Duffus, Ball, Otwica, Liddiard, Phillips, McDonagh (Hooper 90), Campbell. Subs not used: Mitchell, Zebroski, Dowling.

Magpies: Lee, Madden, Sa, Soares, Buckley, Caze da Silva, Tavares (Bayston 61), Purrington, Stanley, Roberts, Lowes. Subs not used: Benfield, Papakonstantinou, Calverley, Heaton.