DORCHESTER TOWN 2

Gunson 35, Bradbury 75

WINCHESTER CITY 1

Mlambo 29

DORCHESTER Town claimed a breathless 2-1 win over Winchester City in a pulsating Pitching In Southern League Premier South clash at the Avenue Stadium.

Simba Mlambo put Winchester ahead with a tap-in but Charlie Gunson’s close-range header levelled matters.

With both teams striving for victory, the Magpies took the three points courtesy of Harvey Bradbury reacting quickest after pinball in the box.

The victory drew Dorchester level on points with Poole in fourth and within a single point of last season’s overall tally of 41.

Dorchester made four changes to the side that began the 2-0 loss to Weymouth in the Dorset Senior Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Dorchester Town 2-1 Winchester City - how it happened

Dropping to the bench were Louie Slough, Jordi Foot, Shaq Gwengwe and Olly Balmer.

In came Keith Emmerson, Callum Buckley, Kieran Douglas and Matty Neale to take their places, while Jordan Ngalo retained his place on the bench.

Dorchester are yet to hear from the relevant league officials regarding Glenn Howes' and James Wood's red cards in the past two games and both were on the touchline against Winch.

Winchester came into the match without a win in seven games but nearly took the lead in the third minute when Jamie Barron’s purposeful run and shot was deflected behind for a corner.

Dorchester cleared the set-piece and shortly afterwards posted the game’s first shot on target when Bradbury sent a looping header at Charlie Philpott from Matty Neale’s cross.

Dorchester went close again in the sixth minute when Emmerson’s skewed volley skidded towards Alfie Stanley who could only direct a difficult chance wide.

Neale then did brilliantly well to control a square pass in behind the City defence and send a tantalising low cross just beyond Bradbury and Stanley.

In an entertaining end-to-end half, Winchester had their first shot on target when ex-Weymouth striker Warren Bentley drove forward and fired low at Ryan Hall from 20 yards.

Bentley was involved again as City began to enjoy the better of play, twisting into the box and picking out Max Smith who wastefully side-footed over.

Dorchester could only respond through Ferdinand Okoh’s rising 25-yard drive, and the hosts found themselves behind in the 29th minute.

Slack defending allowed Winchester’s Daniel King to steal into the box and slide a square pass along the six-yard box for Mlambo, who netted an unmissable chance into the unguarded goal.

However, Dorchester were behind for only six minutes as Gunson beat Philpott to Emmerson’s long ball, winning a foot race to the loose ball and nudging a diving header home for his sixth league goal this season.

Gunson’s goal seemed to inspire Dorchester and the Magpies were unlucky not to score a second on the cusp of half-time.

Emmerson, causing havoc with his long passes, picked out Stanley on the break and the former Portsmouth forward rattled the far post with a stinging drive.

End-to-end play continued in the second half as Winchester won a succession of corners without troubling the Magpies, who saw Buckley head over a Gunson corner at the other end.

Gunson was next to try his luck, controlling a drilled pass from Stanley and testing Philpott with a low 20-yard effort.

Dorchester were then indebted to Hall for two big saves, firstly palming clear ex-Magpie Ollie Griggs’ goalbound hook and then pushing away a fierce effort from Mlambo.

Mlambo nodded a corner over at the near post before Hall’s saves were rewarded by Bradbury.

Sub Gwengwe was instrumental, his low cross picking out Bradbury who saw his first effort repelled by Philpott, only for the striker to blast the rebound in on 75 minutes.

Philpott was then responsible for a brilliant save on 78 minutes to deny Gunson after Winch were caught napping from a throw-in.

Winchester applied heavy late pressure with Philpott going up for two corners, but City could not find an equaliser as Dorchester booked a fourth league win in five matches.

Magpies: Hall, Bertrand, Sa, Emmerson, Buckley, Douglas, Gunson, Okoh (Ngalo 61), Bradbury, Stanley, Neale (Balmer 81). Subs not used: Slough, Foot.

Winchester: Philpott, Baughan, King, Griggs, Willcox, Chugg, Smith (Brooks 80), Barron (Herbert 72), Bentley, Mlambo, Nolan (Plummer 80). Subs not used: Torniainen, Jamison.

Referee: Sean Phillips

Attendance: 541