DORCHESTER Town assistant manager James Wood paid credit to the quality of Met Police after a 2-0 loss to the Blues at Imber Court.

The Magpies frustrated Met in the first half, with both teams limited to one good chance each – Dorchester’s coming when Kieran Roberts was denied by a superb Liam Beach save.

However, two goals in two minutes left Dorchester with too much work to do as a Liam Ferdinand stunner from 35 yards and Jonathan Hippolyte’s long-distance strike sealed victory.

Going into the game, the Blues had only conceded seven times and have now only been beaten once in 14 Pitching In Southern League Premier South matches.

Speaking to Echosport, Wood recognised the power of Dorchester opponents.

“All you have to do is look at Met Police’s record,” Wood admitted.

READ MORE: Metropolitan Police 2-0 Dorchester Town - match report

“They’re a very good side. I think they’d lost one game in 13 and their defensive record is very good. So, you know you’re coming to a very hard place to get a result.

“We knew that and the boys carried out our plan to the letter first half. We frustrated (them), we were organised. We gave them very little space.

“We stopped crosses going into the box. They carried out everything to the letter and we’ve gone in at half-time 0-0.

“Job done first half without a doubt. We also had a couple of good chances ourselves first half.

“It’s small margins when you’re playing against good sides. If one of the chances had gone in then you’ve got something more to hold on to.

“They would’ve had to become more expansive and then you hope to possibly counter them as the game opens up. That was the plan.”

A tactical change from the hosts proved crucial in the second half, Wood revealed.

“Second half, they kicked their full-backs on,” Wood said.

“They were creating overloads which made it difficult, but we were still very much in the game and still defending extremely well.

“With the pace and running power we had we always looked a threat on the counter.

“Then, the quality they possess, the lad’s picked one up on the turn from 35 yards and popped it straight in the top corner.

“The actual plan was working but it was very difficult to legislate for moments of quality like that. It was a great goal, the ball sat up nicely.

“All of a sudden they’re in the ascendancy and then another great goal from a ball over the top. He’s taken it at full stretch on the jump as the ball’s come over his shoulder.

“He’s brought it down. Nine times out of 10 it probably comes off his boot and runs through to Jez (Benfield, keeper), but he’s buried it in the bottom corner.

“So, the difference was two moments of quality. They’re a very organised side and defended very well.

“We were feeding off scraps a little bit but we knew it was going to be a hard ask.”

Dorchester visit Truro City tomorrow evening, the White Tigers playing their home games at Plymouth Parkways’ Bolitho Park this season.