DORCHESTER TOWN 1

Koszela 36

METROPOLITAN POLICE 0

DORCHESTER Town moved up to the Pitching in Southern League Premier South play-off places thanks to a 36th-minute wonder strike from Olaf Koszela.

Magpies' boss Glenn Howes made seven changes to his starting line-up from the 4-2 extra-time midweek Dorset Senior Cup win over Bridport.

Harvey-Joe Bertrand, Louie Slough, Alex Moyse and Koszela retained their starting places and were joined by returnees Ryan Hall, Callum Buckley, Jordon Foot, Charlie Gunson, Jordan Ngalo, Harvey Bradbury and Alfie Stanley.

On the bench, Mike Lilley was joined by Tiago Sa, Keith Emmerson, Matt Neale and two-goal midweek hero, 16-year-old Lewis Toms.

READ MORE: Dorchester Town 1-0 Met Police - how it happened

Dorchester were looking to arrest a five-match losing streak against the Metropolitan Police but were put under pressure in the fifth minute when the lively Conor Lee produced a ball into the box which Buckley did well to cut out at the expense of a corner which was taken by Lee and met by Herson Rodrigues-Alves who headed over from six yards.

Play soon swung the other way in what proved to be a very end-to-end affair. Bertrand played a delightful ball to Bradbury whose shot was blocked in front of goal and the rebound fell straight to Gunson who fired over.

Koszela then worked hard to keep a long ball from Slough in play near the corner flag but lost possession to Joshua Keeya who swept up the danger. Buckley then headed clear a centre from Lee and when the ball was played in again, Thomas Read looped a header over.

As the visitors continued to press, Matthew Hall’s crossfield pass picked out Lee who centred for Keeya whose shot again cleared the Dorchester crossbar.

Back came Dorchester with Koszela twice having strong shots blocked.

At the other end, a wayward backpass from Bertrand could have caused problems for Dorchester but from Read’s resultant corner, Ngalo broke away to find Koszela. His cross sailed over Foot who in any event had been adjudged offside.

Ngalo then found Bradbury who played a one two with Koszela but headed wide of the near post from the Torquay loanee’s neat chipped return pass.

Visiting keeper Liam Beach clawed aside a Koszela shot from Bradbury’s pass. At the other end, Keeya centred for striker Jasper Mather who headed wide. Stanley and Moyse combined to set up Koszela who produced a fierce angled drive just past the far post. Beach then saved from Gunson and from the following corner, the visiting gloveman did just enough to fingertip the ball to safety.

Metropolitan Police returned to attack and a clever drag back from Keeya looked to have presented the midfielder with a great chance but he failed to produce any real power behind his attempt.

That miss proved costly as Dorchester swept up the other end and Koszela drove in from the left wing to unleash a fantastic shot into the far top corner.

Dorchester threatened again when a three-man move involving Koszela, Bertrand and Moyse culminated in the latter trying his luck, but his effort also lacked the velocity needed and proved to be an easy gather for Beach.

With half-time approaching, the visitors kept pushing and Rodrigues-Alves set up Keeya who drilled a low effort wide. Skipper Luke Robertson then fed Mather who went down in the presence of Foot but referee Iain Parsons was unimpressed and waved play on.

An early second-half free-kick for a foul on Koszela by substitute Harry Taylor was taken by Gunson but cleared by Mather. A corner from Gunson was also cleared while the midfielder then cut in from the right but could only fire over.

Ngalo surged forward but his shot deflected wide with Gunson’s follow up corner too high for Foot. The next chance was created by Moyse but Foot’s looping header was claimed by Beach.

Dorchester had asked most of the early second half questions and there was an element of frustration with Read’s well off-target shot on the turn. Meanwhile, a drive from Rodrigues-Alves was charged down by Moyse while Read also had an attempt blocked.

The 61st minute introduction of substitute Richard Afrane-Kesey for Mather gave the visiting attack renewed optimism. Afrane-Kesey produced a left-wing corner which found Hall who flashed a header inches wide from eight yards. A long clearance from the Dorchester keeper was chased by Gunson who won a corner which he then delivered. Beach came out but missed the ball which unfortunately for the Magpies also eluded Stanley.

Dorchester’s Hall then pulled off a great save to keep out a venomous strike from Lee before Bernard Tanner surged forward and unleashed a low drive wide while Robertson also had an attempt deflect wide.

Stanley could not beat his marker at one end while Gunson was forced to hack clear after substitute Emmerson, who replaced Stanley, failed to connect with a late cross.

Stoppage time was a lively affair as the Metropolitan Police threw the book at Dorchester in attempt to force parity.

Set up by Keeya, Afrane-Kesey drew another fine save from Hall at his near post Beach twice raced from his area for fruitless set-pieces but the Magpies could not take advantage of the empty goal left behind.

However, Dorchester produced the determined defending required to keep the visitors at bay and survived a nervy final five minutes to take fifth spot in the league with their third straight win.

Magpies: Hall, Bertrand, Slough, Moyse, Buckley, Foot, Gunson, Ngalo, Bradbury (Neale 71), Stanley (Emmerson 83), Koszela. Subs not used: Sa, Lilley, Toms

Met Police: Beach, Gallowway (H Taylor 46), Fisher (A Taylor 83), Hall, Tanner, Keeya, Lee, Robertson, Mather (Aftane-Kesey 61), Rodrigues-Alves, Read. Subs not used: Birch, Degand

Referee: Iain Parsons

Attendance: 604