Dorchester Town 1-3 Chesham United: Magpies lost unbeaten run

Stanley 44

CHESHAM UNITED 3

Braney 54, Edwards 66, 71 pen

DORCHESTER Town lost a seven-game unbeaten record as Chesham United underlined their title credentials with a comeback 3-1 win at the Avenue Stadium.

Alfie Stanley’s 25-yard stunner into the top corner gave the Magpies a half-time lead but Chesham hit back in the second half.

Tobias Braney’s well-taken finish from a narrow angle levelled matters before Jordan Edwards claimed a brace, his second coming from the spot after Callum Buckley’s foul.

Dorchester could not find a way back against third-placed Chesham and dropped from sixth to eighth in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South standings after their best run for 16 years was ended.

READ MORE: Dorchester Town 1-3 Chesham United - how it happened

In an increasingly tight table, only five points separates Salisbury in fifth with Beaconsfield in 14th.

Looking for Dorchester’s eighth game without defeat, boss Glenn Howes made just one change to the starting line-up that began the 1-1 draw at Winchester last time out.

Harvey Bradbury dropped to the bench for Alfie Stanley but Olly Balmer was absent from the squad.

Shaq Gwengwe was fit enough to return to the 16, with Louie Slough, Harvey-Joe Bertrand and Keith Emmerson joining him.

Prior to kick-off, Dorchester could have gone as high as fourth with a victory and the Magpies started on the front foot with an attempt straight from kick-off that away keeper Sam Beasant was wise to.

Matty Neale then curled wide after good work from Olaf Koszela and the hosts very nearly made their early pressure pay when Charlie Gunson rattled the post after surging into the area.

Charlie Gunson, left, hit the post early on (Image: IDRIS MARTIN)

Chesham then began to assert control as the hosts were forced to clear two half-chances created by Zak Joseph, the midfielder also stinging the palms of Magpies’ keeper Ryan Hall 18 minutes in.

Dorchester retaliated when Kieran Douglas got up well to head Neale’s cross just wide, but back came the dangerous Joseph with a curler that narrowly evaded the target.

In an intriguing first half Dorchester seized the initiative with a moment of brilliance from Stanley on the cusp of half-time.

Picking the ball up on the left, Stanley let fly from 25 yards and found the top far corner with a beauty for 1-0.

Alfie Stanley, centre background, scored a pearler to give Dorchester the lead (Image: IDRIS MARTIN)

However, the Magpies received a blow before the break when Koszela pulled up injured chasing a long ball.

After treatment he tried to continue but it soon became apparent he could not and was replaced by Bradbury.

And it took just nine minutes of the second half for Chesham to equalise as Hall’s super save from Jeanmal Prosper looked to be heading safe until Braney somehow found the net on the angle.

Having just got themselves back into the game, there was a scare for Chesham when Bradbury almost intercepted a loose pass that provoked Beasant out to clear.

Beasant’s good work was rewarded on 66 minutes when Edwards turned and fired home on the edge of the box for 2-1 with the game’s third quality goal in three.

Five minutes later and the Generals were marching to victory as Buckley’s foul on Shaq Hippolyte-Patrick was deemed a penalty and Edwards stepped up to net past Hall’s right glove.

Jordan Edwards beat Ryan Hall to make it 3-1 (Image: IDRIS MARTIN)

Howes threw Gwengwe on with ten minutes to go and the forward’s first involvement was to pick up yellow for a high boot.

Dorchester used up all their subs to no avail and there was late temper as Jordan Ngalo suffered an injury in a poor tackle from sub T’Sharne Gallimore, earning a yellow.

Bradbury and Douglas were also cautioned for apparent dissent as Dorchester’s frustrations at a rare defeat were visible.

The Magpies return to action on Tuesday in Dorset Senior Cup action at home to Sherborne (7.45pm).

Magpies: Hall, Foot, Sa, Moyse (Emmerson 85), Buckley, Douglas, Gunson, Ngalo, Stanley (Gwengwe 80), Koszela (Bradbury 45+3), Neale. Subs not used: Slough, Bertrand.

Chesham: Beasant, Prosper, Connors, Casey, Brown, Joseph, Sutherland (Gallimore 74), Gibbons, Edwards (Feyi 82), Braney (Mfinda 90+2), Hippolyte-Patrick. Subs not used: Oliyide, Clayton.

Referee: Paul Barber

Attendance: 409