CHESHAM UNITED 2

DORCHESTER TOWN 0

FIRST-HALF goals for Jeanmal Prosper and Ricardo German sent Dorchester Town to a 2-0 defeat at Chesham United in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South.

The Magpies had taken four points from their past two games but went 1-0 down in the second minute as Prosper buried a finish at the back post.

Former Crawley striker German then gave the Generals a cushion, pivoting on the spot and lashing home.

Dorchester had gone close through Shaq Gwengwe and Jordan Ngalo but could not break the play-off contenders down.

READ MORE: Chesham United 2-0 Dorchester Town - how it happened

Glenn Howes, whose side dropped to 13th following the loss, made four changes to the line-up that began the 2-2 draw at Salisbury last Saturday.

Keith Emmerson, Alfie Stanley and Ferdinand Okoh all got starts, while a maiden starting XI place was handed to Yeovil loanee Jake Graziano.

Matty Neale, Alex Moyse, Jamie Howell and Harvey-Joe Bertrand all dropped to the bench, joining Baylin Johnson.

Howes’ changes gave Dorchester’s side a slightly more defensive look, and it will therefore have irked the manager when the Magpies conceded so early.

Assistant James Wood had warned pre-match about Chesham’s forward line and the hosts’ movement prised Dorchester’s defence open from a corner as Prosper finished at the back post.

Dorchester responded when Keith Emmerson, playing his first game since announcing his decision to retire next weekend, drew a save from Chesham keeper Dante Baptiste.

Just 60 seconds later, stand-in skipper Gwengwe was denied by Baptiste in a one-on-one.

Dorchester threatened again when Graziano’s cross just evaded a teammate, Chesham clearing to safety.

However, Dorchester were reminded of Chesham’s quality in brutal fashion as German grabbed an impressive goal.

Prosper held up the ball after latching onto a free-kick and Shaq Hippolyte-Patrick teed up German to pivot and lash high into the net for 2-0.

After the break, Hippolyte-Patrick had a goal disallowed for offside and Jordan Ngalo flashed a long-range shot wide at the other end.

By 58 minutes, Howes had seen enough to make two changes as Tiago Sa and Okoh made way for Neale and Howell.

Their final change followed ten minutes later as Gwengwe was wrapped in cotton wool, allowing Bournemouth loanee Baylin Johnson to earn extra game time.

But Chesham seemed content with their margin of victory and expertly managed the game to close out an important three points.

Dorchester return to action against Poole Town on Easter Monday (3pm).

Chesham: Baptiste, Prosper, Rolfe, Ridley, Casey, Sutherland (Gibbons 74), Gallimore, Braney, Rowe, Hippolyte-Patrick (Clayton 67), German (Joseph 80). Subs not used: Connors, Oliyide.

Magpies: Hall, Graziano, Sa (Howell 59), Emmerson, Foot, Slough, Waterfield, Ngalo, Gwengwe (Johnson 67), Stanley, Okoh (Neale 59). Subs not used: Moyse, Bertrand.

Referee: Charles Martland

Attendance: 511