DORCHESTER Town manager Glenn Howes believes the Magpies showed their adaptability in the 4-2 win at Hartley Wintney.

Howes’ men play and train on the slick 3G surface at the Avenue Stadium but encountered an entirely different proposition at the Memorial Playing Fields.

With heavy rain and wind, an increasingly mud-caked pitch and the well-documented slope, Dorchester had to display a different side to their game.

And the Magpies responded superbly as first-half goals for Charlie Gunson and Alfie Stanley put Dorchester 2-1 up after Shamar Moore’s leveller.

READ MORE: Hartley Wintney 2-4 Dorchester Town - match report

Harvey Bradbury buried a third but George Winser’s debut goal halved the deficit before Howes was dismissed for what officials deemed to be delaying play at a throw-in.

Howes’ red card mattered little as Reese Jones’ own goal 13 minutes from time made sure of the points, lifting Dorchester into fifth in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South table.

Speaking to Echosport, Howes said: “A really good performance and a good day for the team.

“The character to go and perform the way they did, the pitch was challenging and conditions were challenging – you can’t play on a 3G every week.

“There’s other aspects and ways of playing football and you have to answer (those) questions. The players did, that’s for sure.

“We felt Hartley were very good in possession. They retained the ball on a very difficult pitch in areas that weren’t so dangerous to us.

“That doesn’t mean there wasn’t a threat in the final third. At times, we felt we could really hurt them in certain areas and the boys did that.

“I don’t think they’d have any qualms in terms of the result.”

Dorchester have twice scored four goals or more in the Dorset Senior Cup this season, but their quadruple against The Row was the second time against this opposition in 2022/23.

Howes added: “What’s more pleasing is you look at the offensive-minded players we have now.

“We spoke about it earlier in the season. You crudely look at it and think: ‘Who actually can manage to score double figures?’

“You look and think Alfie Stanley amongst the goals, Harvey, Charlie, Matty Neale was unfortunate (not) to be amongst the goals but he has scored important goals for us.

“And Shaquille (Gwengwe) as well. Obviously, he was unwell but he’s more than capable of contributing goals, so it’s really pleasing scoring four away from home.”

Dorchester visit Weymouth in the Dorset Senior Cup semi-finals on Tuesday (7.45pm).