DORCHESTER TOWN 0

CHESHAM UNITED 2

Roberts 40, German 90+11

DORCHESTER Town’s problematic start to the new Pitching In Southern League Premier South season continued with a 2-0 home loss to ten-man Chesham United.

Connor Roberts put the Generals ahead five minutes before the break but then earned a straight red for allegedly lashing out at Olaf Koszela.

Dorchester were competitive throughout and piled men forward in search of an equaliser but in doing so were punished in the 101st minute as ex-Crawley striker Ricardo German sealed the points.

Chesham are now unbeaten in 10 games against Dorchester, winning their last six.

Playing a side many tip to be in the play-off picture at worst come May, Dorchester were always likely to be up against it.

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

The Magpies now have one point from five games and look a shadow of the side, in results terms, that by this stage last season had gathered four wins.

Looking to prevent a third-straight loss, manager Glenn Howes made two changes to his starting line-up, Lewis Waterfield coming in and new signing Alfie Saunders making his debut after joining on loan from Farnborough.

Harvey-Joe Bertrand dropped to the bench, while there was no place in the squad for Tiago Sa.

Ieuan Turner, Jake Graziano and Jamie Hosking retained their places on the bench, Bertrand joining them along with the returning Koszela.

Dorchester did a good job of containing Chesham early on but the General exploded into life with two chances in two minutes.

Their first opening went to Luton loanee Josh Allen, who tested keeper Lloyd Thomas with a firm drive before the stopper kept out Eoin Casey following a slick throw-in routine.

Sandwiched in between that brace of chances came a half-opening for Dorchester, although Lewis Waterfield delayed his strike and Chesham got back to clear.

Dorchester continued to frustrate Chesham, Jordi Foot earning yellow for bringing down Allen, but the Generals got their noses in front on 40 minutes.

Roberts surged forward from his right-back role and cheekily nutmegged Thomas with a glorious finish for a 1-0 half-time lead.

Dorchester survived a shot blasted across the face of goal early in the second half, but did respond when skipper Jordan Ngalo thumped an effort just over debutant and ex-Weymouth keeper Zaki Oualah’s bar.

Howes was prompted into subbing Benjani Jr for Koszela on the hour and seven minutes later the visitors were down to ten men.

Koszela was in the thick of the action, on the end of what Dorchester felt was a deliberate attempt to strike him by Roberts.

Koszela was booked for his part, while goalscorer Roberts saw a straight red from referee Antony Smith.

With the door ajar for Dorchester, Bertrand came on for Louie Slough although the hosts were fortunate not to go down to ten men themselves as Chesham appealed for simulation against Koszela.

Saunders later caused problems with a long throw, allowing Jack Wright to smack a volley inches over the bar.

Dorchester were livid with ten minutes to go as they claimed Waterfield was taken out in the area, only for the officials to wave play on.

That was to be Waterfield’s last action as Howes made one last throw of the dice, introducing young striker Hosking on 87 minutes.

And the talented forward nearly came up trumps with a goal in the last minute of normal time, Oualah keeping out his goalbound effort from Bertrand’s cross.

Amid a sudden downpour, Dorchester were handed ten minutes of added time to find an equaliser.

As they pushed forward, Chesham enjoyed space on the counter and should have made it 2-0 when sub German found Shaq Hippolyte-Patrick.

The striker picked his spot but only connected with the post as Dorchester breathed a sign of relief.

And Hosking fired one last chance wide for The Magpies before the killer blow.

As the game stretched into an 11th extra minute, German muscled his way clear and slotted past Thomas for 2-0.

The goal took the sting out of Dorchester’s late pressure and consigned the Magpies to a fourth defeat in five games ahead of a daunting trip to Poole on Monday.

Magpies: Ll Thomas, Saunders, Slough (Bertrand 70), Wright, Ngalo, Foot, Barnett, Moyse, Benjani Jr (Koszela 61), Gwengwe, Waterfield (Hosking 87). Subs not used: Turner, Graziano.

Chesham: Oualah, Roberts, Connors (Duru 80), Rolfe, Gallimore, Edwards (German 73), Allen (Rush 70), Hippolyte-Patrick, Casey, Gibbons, Adebiyi. Subs not used: Jones, Sinclair.

Referee: Antony Smith.