Dorchester Town 3 Hendon 0

The Magpies were applauded off the pitch after turning in a superb second half performance to score three goals without reply and considerably ease their relegation fears. Dorchester are now six points clear of the relegation zone as nearest rivals King’s Langley lost at 2-1 at home to Swindon Supermarine. Both sides have three remaining matches to play.

Dorchester boss Glenn Howes named an unchanged starting line-up and substitutes bench for the visit of Hendon who started the afternoon two places and ten points ahead of the Magpies.

Dorchester started well and tested visiting keeper Ethan Wady on several occasions before Hendon rallied to pose a greater attacking threat. During that spell of Hendon pressure came the turning point with Dorchester keeper Jack Bycroft, who had picked up the Supporters Player of the month award for March pre-match, pulling off a stunning penalty save to ensure that the Magpies remained on level terms at the break. In the second half the Magpies emerged to take a firm grip on proceedings. Two goals from Alfie Stanley and a stoppage time Olaf Koszela strike sealed what in the end was a comfortable and well deserved victory.

The Magpies carved out their first chance after four minutes when a left wing cross from Tiago Sa found Oakley Hanger running in to a deep position but the Dorchester full back could only blast high over the bar from an acute angle. After initial good work by Tom Purrington, Hanger found Stanley whose floated centre eluded his teammates. Harvey Bertrand then won the ball in the centre circle to set up Stanley whose 30 yard dipping shot was pushed over his crossbar by Wady. After an elaborate build up, a cross from Sa carried too much weight and was cleared to safety near the corner flag.

A misplaced pass from Frank Keita then gifted Koszela a chance that he took to surge forward from a deep position in his own half to ultimately produce a fierce angled drive which Wady dived to push aside.

At this stage Hendon were struggling to make any impact against the Magpies defence but a Kieran Forbes free kick created a chance which Quba Gordon headed wide at the far post. Suddenly Hendon found belief and a low 30 yard effort from Jayden Clarke deflected wide for a corner which Ash Wells headed clear. Billy Lowes had a shot blocked on the edge of the penalty area for Dorchester while an effort on the turn from Ricardo Alexander-Greenaway was stopped by Callum Buckley. A ball over the defence from Purrington from a McGrath pass found Koszela whose curled attempt was pushed out by Wady. Back came Hendon and a foul Lowes on Clarke conceded a free kick with which Clarke struck the wall. Kenneth Atagyamfi retrieved the ball to find Alexander-Greenaway who prodded wide from 18 yards. Then came the penalty, awarded for a trip by Stanley on Clarke and Bycroft’s athletic save diving to his right to deny Eren Kinali.

A free kick awarded for a foul on Keita was taken by Clarke whose fiercely struck attempt cannoned off the defensive wall for a Hendon corner which was safely claimed by Bycroft whose long upfield clearance sailed straight through to Wady. A snapshot from Atagyamfi flew wide before Sa and Koszela broke away with the latter’s ball into the box met by McGrath whose header was punched clear.

After a Hanger free kick had been cleared, the last chance of the first half fell to Hendon with Kinali picking out Alexander-Greenaway who lifted his shot over the bar from 18 yards.

Three minutes after the restart, the Magpies were celebrating the first of three second half goals. The first was handed to them by hesitation between Wady and central defender Matthew Hall. The keeper’s attempted clearance cannoned off McGrath who succeeded in keeping the ball in play to find Purrington whose shot was blocked but the ball rebounded kindly for Stanley to slot home. Dorchester nearly doubled their lead when a right wing corner from Sa hit a surprised Buckley on the six yard line but the ball was cleared before he could react. Koszela surged to the near post but his venomous drive was pushed to safety against the post by Wady. A mazy run from Purrington deserved a better outcome but McGrath did not see the pass headed his way and the ball was cleared.

Sa was replaced by Louie Slough on 58 minutes just ahead of a yellow card being shown to Buckley for time wasting at a Dorchester free kick. But Buckley forgot all about that caution seconds later as his delivery was inch perfect for McGrath to head down to Stanley who fired in from six yards to double the Dorchester lead.

Following a Hanger corner, the ball eventually found Stanley who came mightily close to notching his hat trick with a 25 yard shot which clipped the crossbar.

Keita had a shot blocked for Hendon while Clarke had appeals for a second penalty waved aside by referee James Robinson after he fell under pressure from Hanger.

A flare up in midfield following a poor challenge from Keita resulted in bookings for the Hendon striker for the foul and for Lowes who reacted strongly.

Lowes then won the ball to find Koszela who moved with pace but could only shoot over as did Wells from 20 yards after a one two between Stanley and Koszela and a cross from the former.

Dorchester were not threatened too frequently but a Clarke shot deflected off Bertrand for a Kinali corner which was headed over by Tafari Moore. A leg injury to Wells forced a substitution on Dorchester with Jack Wadham playing the remaining three minutes of normal time plus five added minutes. There was no further concern for the reshuffled Magpies defence but time for one more Magpies goal as Hanger nodded into the path of Koszela who added scored with a low drive into the far corner.

Teams:

Dorchester: Bycroft, Hanger, Sa (Slough 56), Wells (Wadham 87), Buckley (c),Bertrand, Koszela, Purrington (Gunson 76), McGrath, Stanley, Lowes Subs (not used) Odubade, Soares

Goals: Stanley 48, 59 Koszela 90+4

Hendon: Wady, Okotcha (Corcoran 63), Moore, Forbes (c), Hall, Gordon, Clarke, Alexander-Greenaway (Smith 78), Atagyamfi (Vetterlain 76), Keita, Kinali

Referee: James Robinson

Cautions: Dorchester -  Buckley (time-wasting 58), Lowes ( retaliation 69) Hendon - Okotcha (foul 58), Keita (foul 69)

Attendance 328