DORCHESTER TOWN 1

Neale 72

TIVERTON TOWN 2

Buchan 52, Richards 63

DORCHESTER Town lost their perfect home record this season as Tiverton Town claimed a smash-and-grab 2-1 victory at the Avenue Stadium.

The Magpies were bidding for their fifth straight win at home and peppered the Tiverton goal with a barrage of shots, Olly Balmer twice hitting the post in the first half.

However, Tivvy shook the post themselves through skipper Jamie Richards’ header with Matt Buchan reacting quickest to the rebound.

And Tiverton again displayed sharper reflexes to bury a loose ball, Richards profiting after Harry Lee had saved from Joe O’Loughlin.

READ MORE: Dorchester Town 1-2 Tiverton Town - how it happened

Matty Neale’s first Dorchester goal set up a grandstand finish but Alfie Stanley and Olaf Koszela spurned glorious late chances as the Magpies were made to hurt for their wastefulness.

Dorchester made two changes to the starting XI that began Saturday's 2-1 loss to Hanwell.

Harvey-Joe Bertrand and Neale dropped to the bench, with Jordi Foot and Balmer coming in to replace the duo.

Dorchester's matchday squad remained unchanged with Louie Slough, Jordan Ngalo and Ollie Griggs retaining their places on the bench.

Dorchester were unbeaten in their past three games with Tiverton, winning two, and made a bright start to their latest fixture.

Tiago Sa won an second-minute corner but Balmer’s ball back in was dropped by Tivvy keeper Lewis Williams onto his near post and fortuitously into his hands rather than the path of a Dorchester player.

Stanley fired wide an ambitious shot from 25 yards before Foot missed a golden chance at the back post, drilling over as power ruled over placement.

Dorchester then had three shots in the 19th minute as Stanley and Balmer were blocked, Koszela then kept out by the legs of Williams.

Tiverton reminded the Magpies they were still in the game as Lee spilled a free-kick and Dylan Jones darted into the box to win a corner that was tamely headed at Lee.

In Dorchester’s next attack, Koszela neglected to shoot but Charlie Gunson whistled a volley just wide and Balmer planted a firm cross too close to Williams.

For all Dorchester’s good play, Tiverton always attacked with energy and intent as Louis Morison pulled a 25-yarder wide.

But Dorchester had the greater infiltration into their opponents’ box as Gunson poked into the side-netting under pressure from Williams.

Yet Tiverton’s keeper was left motionless ten minutes before half-time as the luckless Balmer’s superb free-kick crashed against the near post and away.

Tivvy responded when former Dorchester midfielder Tom Purrington blazed over and forward Jordan Lam drilled over a good chance after slipping in the build-up.

And their momentum continued into the second half as the Yellows took a 52nd-minute lead in fortuitous circumstances, Buchan best placed to pounce after Richards nodded against the post.

Stanley fired at Williams and Kieran Douglas headed the resultant corner over as Dorchester kept pushing, although it was Tiverton who would score the next goal.

O’Loughlin played a cute one-two with Purrington before testing Lee to full stretch, the Exeter loanee only able to push the low shot towards Richards who gleefully tapped home.

Dorchester boss Glenn Howes brought Neale on in the 69th minute and three minutes later the forward had his first Magpies goal when he stabbed home after Williams had parried Gunson’s low cross into a central position.

Balmer went close with two more free-kicks as Dorchester sensed an equaliser and the outstanding forward set Stanley away with a scything ball six minutes from time.

The former Portsmouth striker did everything correctly until Tiverton just did enough to offput him on the shot, lifting above Williams but just wide to the despair of the Dorchester dugout.

Bertrand, who was lively after coming on as a sub, then picked out Koszela in the six-yard box, only for the Torquay loanee to scoop over another sitter.

Douglas earned a bizarre yellow card for carrying Buchan off as the striker time-wasted seconds from time, drawing a fierce reaction from the goalscorer that also yielded a booking.

With the seconds draining away, Stanley sidefooted an excellent opening at Williams and Tiverton nearly sealed it but for the reflexes of Lee, who pushed clear Lam’s rasping drive on the break.

In the five added minutes, Tiverton expertly kept themselves out of danger and ended with Lam dragging wide before the final whistle sparked jubilant scenes on their bench.

Tiverton leapfrogged Dorchester into sixth, the Magpies dropping a place to ninth ahead of hosting Harrow on Saturday (3pm).

Magpies: Lee, Foot (Bertrand 61) Sa, Emmerson (Neale 69) Buckley, Douglas, Moyse (Ngalo 84), Gunson, Koszela, Stanley, Balmer. Subs not used: Slough, Griggs.

Tiverton: Williams, Down, O'Loughlin, Britton, Richards, J Jones, Morison (Woodman 79), Purrington, Buchan (Vowles 86), Lam, D Jones. Subs not used: Belsten, Fanning, Saunders.

Referee: Carl Peters

Attendance: 312