DORCHESTER TOWN 0

AFC PORTCHESTER 1

Pitman 71

FORMER Bournemouth striker Brett Pitman’s 71st-minute header proved enough to beat Dorchester Town 1-0 in their pre-season friendly at the Avenue Stadium.

Dorchester worked hard but failed to create a good chance throughout the 90 minutes, Liam Robinson’s near own goal the closest they came before Pitman won it in the second half for a side that plies their trade two divisions below Dorchester.

Robinson tested Brad Snelling in the third minute with a swerving shot and Dorchester saw two corners wasted before Brin Doyle fired into the side netting.

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Mike Lilley sliced wide for Dorchester and Snelling was forced to tip over a deflected Pitman strike as the chances flowed.

Dorchester saw Lilley and Alfie Stanley fire off-target before their best chance of the half came via a Portchester boot.

Shaq Gwengwe outmuscled the Portchester trialist centre-back and crossed, forcing Robinson to backheel at goal and bringing a scampering save from keeper Jake Hallett, who clattered into the post.

Half-time was called 100 seconds early to allow for Hallett’s treatment and, although he continued in the second half, he could only last five minutes before assistant boss Brett Poate replaced him.

Dorchester had made eight changes at the break and a sub trialist sidefooted a good chance over before Pitman poked a shot at the Magpies’ trialist sub keeper.

Stanley responded by heaving over after skipping past two tackles and then curling at Poate from a wide left position.

Dorchester’s trialist keeper dropped a cross before pouncing on it with James Cowan poised to shoot and Robinson hit the post seconds later after a quick move.

The Magpies put the rebound out for a corner and it proved their undoing, Pitman heading home a peach of a cross from Ashton Leigh with 19 minutes remaining.

Dorchester dominated possession in reacting to the goal but failed to create any clear chance in a disappointing end to the friendly.

Glenn Howes’ men are next in action at home to Sholing on Saturday (3pm).

Magpies first half: Snelling, Trialist, Sa, Bertrand, Emmerson, Slough, Gunson, Lilley, Gwengwe, Stanley, Doyle.

Magpies second half: Trialist, Trialist (Symes 68), Baxter, Buckley, Emmerson (Trialist 78), Calverley, Trialist, Trialist, Griggs, Stanley (M Smith 68), Neale.

Portchester: Hallett (Poate 49), Wilkins, Bailey, Raine, Leigh, Trialist, Cowan, Pitman, Barker (#16), Barcelos (Quick 82), Robinson (#15).