Dorchester Town 4-2 Hartley Wintney: Olaf Koszela and Shaq Gwengwe hit braces

Koszela 2, 56, Gwengwe 61, 83

HARTLEY WINTNEY 2

Cooksley 18 pen, 88

DORCHESTER Town stormed to a hat-trick of home wins with a convincing 4-2 victory over Hartley Wintney in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South.

Olaf Koszela’s brace either side of half-time sandwiched Harry Cooksley’s penalty for the Row, before Dorchester stretched their legs to go 4-1 up.

Substitute Shaq Gwengwe came off the bench to score twice, celebrating in trademark fashion by jumping into the crowd, before Cooksley grabbed a late consolation.

Shaq Gwengwe, left, jumped into the crowd after his second goal Picture: IDRIS MARTIN

Dorchester have now recorded four wins from five matches and rise one place to fourth, just one point off leaders Weston-super-Mare.

READ MORE: Dorchester Town 4-2 Hartley Wintney - how it happened

It continues what is quickly becoming Dorchester’s best start to a season in recent memory, and certainly statistically since 2015/16 when the Magpies earned 13 points in seven games.

Boss Glenn Howes had a home hat-trick firmly in his sights as he seeks to make good on his ambition to turn the Avenue Stadium into a fortress.

He made three changes, two enforced with the suspended Ollie Griggs and Kieran Douglas, plus the dropped Gwengwe.

In came centre-back Keith Emmerson plus forwards Matt Neale and Olly Balmer.

On the bench, Gwengwe was joined by Alex Moyse, Louie Slough and Charlie Gunson plus under-23s captain Connor Callow.

In an electric start, Dorchester nearly went 1-0 up in the first minute as Balmer played Alfie Stanley through, only for Reese Jones Jr. to get back and make the block.

Sixty seconds later, though, Dorchester were ahead.

Koszela exploited Hartley’s high line and ran in behind, remaining composed after his first shot was saved by debutant keeper Killian Barrett before slotting home the rebound.

Olaf Koszela, left, scores for Dorchester Picture: IDRIS MARTIN

Hartley nearly responded in the eighth minute as Aaron Goode forced a smart save from home custodian Harry Lee, before a clean-through Stanley fired wide a golden chance for 2-0.

However, the Row came back into the game with two corners and eventually got a major decision in their favour as Cooksley went down in the box under the attention of Neale.

Dorchester felt the awarding of a penalty was soft but Cooksley stepped up to send Lee the wrong way for 1-1 in the 18th minute.

Matt Neale, left, fouls Harry Cooksley to give away a penalty Picture: IDRIS MARTIN

Both sides traded blows in midfield but Cooksley went close again from a free-kick after Jordan Ngalo was penalised.

Dorchester replied when Balmer conjured a good save from Barrett but Lee also had to be aware as Cooksley tested him again.

The Row ended the half on top when Kingsley Eshun stabbed wide, but there was no stopping Dorchester in the second period.

Howes’ Magpies, as they had done against Plymouth Parkway, launched into another gear with a flurry of three goals in 16 minutes.

Koszela grabbed his and Dorchester’s second when Balmer beat Barrett to a through ball then squared for Koszela to score.

Olaf Koszela, second left, scores his and Dorchester's second Picture: IDRIS MARTIN

Balmer was the creator again when his through ball allowed the pace of sub Gwengwe to take over as the striker emphatically fired past Barrett.

Shaq Gwengwe, left, celebrates putting Dorchester 3-1 up Picture: IDRIS MARTIN

And a counter-attack led to 4-1 when Bertrand zoomed down the right and crossed for Gwengwe to sweep home another confident finish to complete his brace.

Shaq Gwengwe finishes clinically to make it 4-1 Picture: IDRIS MARTIN

There was still time for a plucky Wintney side to score a consolation as Cooksley himself earned a deserved brace, rifling past Lee from 20 yards.

Only Barrett could deny Koszela a first Magpies hat-trick in the 94th minute, but Dorchester will not care.

Their rejuvenated side visit Yate Town on Monday with high hopes of a fifth victory in six games – a potential statistic that would have been considered unthinkable last season.

Magpies: Lee, Bertrand, Sa, Foot, Buckley, Emmerson (Slough 75), Neale, Ngalo, Koszela, Stanley (Gwengwe 53), Balmer (Moyse 79). Subs not used: Gunson, Callow.

Hartley Wintney: Barrett, Leggett, Jones Jr, Drage, Goode, Spiers, Akers (Rumble 75), Emmanuel (Nevile 75), McLeish-White, Cooksley, Eshun (Nuur 68). Subs not used: Hutchings, Smith-Jones.

Referee: Andrew Hobbs

Attendance: 416