PUZZLED Dorchester Town manager Glenn Howes admitted he watched the Magpies lose 2-1 to Tiverton Town in “disbelief”.

Producing a creative, fluent and attractive performance, Dorchester carved out chances at will as Olly Balmer twice hit the post in the first half.

However, Tiverton reacted quickest to two openings in the second half as Matt Buchan and Jamie Richards prodded home for 2-0.

Matt Neale’s first Dorchester goal set up a grandstand finish but Alfie Stanley and Olaf Koszela both missed glorious late chances as the Magpies lost at home for the first time this season.

READ MORE: Dorchester Town 1-2 Tiverton Town - match report

Speaking to Echosport, a flabbergasted Howes could not fathom how Dorchester had lost.

He said: “I’ve watched that 95 minutes in disbelief, in all honesty, in terms of what I’ve seen and we’ve come away with nothing.

“The only positive you take away is that fortune will start to improve, we start to take our chances and we can punish the opposition – which we should’ve done.”

He added: “When you create chances and find that clinical edge, it comes from all components of your team.

“We’re not just looking at the forward line, we’re looking at contributions and goals from different areas. We’ve all got to start to contribute.

“I just felt we dominated from start to finish. Tiverton on occasions were a threat on the counter and that transition.

“I felt our build-up play was superb, our ability to handle the ball in the middle of the park, our ability to play through them, go round them, get into that final third, was nothing short of exceptional.

“That’s why I’ve watched the game in disbelief and seen us come away with zero points.”

While Dorchester have lost each of their past four games in all competitions, Howes took comfort from four strong performances.

“That keeps you going,” he insisted. “You take a bit of solace that we’re not far off.

“People can see that we’ve become a good side. Of course, we want to become a very good side.

“Taking that transition from being a good side to being a very good side, we’re going to have to find that clinical edge.

“If we can’t find that, we’re going to have to ensure that we limit any chances on Harry (Lee)’s goal and defend better as the ball turns over.”

Howes also praised sub Neale after being dropped to the bench, adding: “You’re looking for positives and the kid’s done nothing wrong. It was just a tactical change and Olly came in.

“He can probably feel unfortunate in the amount of game time and minutes he’s received so far.

“But he’s finding his feet at this level and he’s an accomplished footballer in possession. He’ll gain the minutes he requires over the course of the season.”

Dorchester host Harrow Borough on Saturday (3pm) in their next Pitching In Southern League Premier South game.