DORCHESTER Town boss Glenn Howes insisted “fortune was on Chesham’s side” as the Generals inflicted a 2-1 defeat upon the Magpies.

Howes’ men sustained a fifth straight Pitching In Southern League Premier South defeat and are three points above the drop zone after Kings Langley drew 1-1 with leaders Farnborough.

The Magpies were left to rue a four-minute period midway through the half as Chesham recovered from Charlie Madden’s clever free-kick in the 42nd minute.

Substitute Bradley Clayton won what appeared to be a soft penalty for a foul by keeper Jack Bycroft and Clayton then dusted himself down to score – despite Bycroft getting fingertips to his spot-kick.

READ MORE: Dorchester Town 1-2 Chesham United - match report

And Clayton was the Generals’ match-winner when his deflected shot found the bottom corner in the 72nd minute.

Up until Clayton’s double, Dorchester looked comfortable having been the better side and with Bycroft rarely called into action.

“It’s a difficult one to dissect,” Howes told Echosport.

“It’s hard. It’s the fifth defeat in a row now but when we perform like that and the players give absolutely everything in possession, out of possession, there’s nothing too much wrong with that performance.

“I’ve said previously about margins in football matches and I just felt we were a little slow coming out of the blocks in the second half and we got extremely punished in that 10-minute period.

“When things are against you, they really are against you in terms of conceding the penalty, Jack getting his fingertips to it and the second goal is hugely deflected.

“You look at the amount of shots we’ve had at goal and you’re just waiting for something to drop for you.

“It’s an incredibly brave performance from the boys in terms of the position we find ourselves in. There’s no critics and everybody who watched the game will have their opinion.

“I think it would be unanimous in saying that if we continue to perform like that, we will definitely start to move up the table.”

Discussing the performance in more detail, Howes noted how the Magpies bossed a promotion-chasing side for large spells – particularly in the first half.

He said: “You have to look at the quality of the opposition. They’ve beaten Hungerford in the week, who are a good (National League) South team, and they’ve beaten Hayes & Yeading who are vying for the title with Farnborough.

“So, for us to dominate the ball, in good areas as well – not just our third, the middle and final – we passed with a purpose.

“We had a really good Tuesday and a really good Thursday in terms of the match preparation. I couldn’t ask for any more because everything we did in training came out.

“It’s just annoyingly that little 10-minute period. Fortune was on Chesham’s side and I think they will be big enough to admit that as well.”

Howes also applauded Madden’s set-piece goal, with the centre-back often practising his free-kicks.

“You see Charlie and it’s no coincidence the boy’s done that,” he said.

“He’s one that stays behind and practises these free-kicks. There’s a fashionable and quirky technique to it these days, the way the ball moves.

“He’s executed it extremely well. We’ve got two or three in the camp who are very good from set-pieces.

“They stay out and practice it, and second half we saw it again. Unfortunately it’s not enough to win the game but it was an extremely well-taken free-kick.”

Dorchester host Truro City in league action tomorrow evening (7.45pm).