HAMPTON & RICHMOND 2

Tanner 10, Wright 71

DORCHESTER TOWN 0

DORCHESTER came away from the Beveree empty-handed but will take some comfort from arguably their best ever performance at this venue.

There was little to choose between the sides in the first half in which the Beavers took a 10th minute lead and Gary Bowles missed a great chance to equalise for the Magpies.

After the break, Dorchester always looked likely to equalise until they pressed the self-destruct button with 19 minutes remaining when a wayward free-kick from keeper Gareth Stewart fell kindly for substitute Lawrence Yaku who set up prolific teenage striker Ben Wright to seal victory.

After that there was no way back for Dorchester whose frustrations were compounded with a flurry of late bookings.

Hampton & Richmond normally bombard their opponents from the start but it seemed that Dorchester would survive the initial onslaught especially when Stewart cut out a dangerous cross from Graham Harper.

But after 10 minutes Barrie Matthews won the ball in midfield then played a one-two with Wright before delivering an inviting centre which was missed by Shaun McAuley but reached Craig Tanner for a simple tap in at the far post. The Magpies fought back but Mitchell Nicholson, in for the suspended Nick Crittenden, failed to lift his 14th minute free-kick over the Beavers’ wall. Jamie Mudge then had one shot blocked and sent another wide.

Wright cut in from the right wing and saw his shot deflect wide for a corner, which was taken by Matthews and met by Wright who this time headed straight at Stewart.

The Dorchester keeper then punched a Matthews corner out of play off Wright for a goal kick.

At the other end, Nicholson’s 18 yard effort was blocked while Matthews fired wide for Hampton & Richmond.

But the best chance for the Magpies followed an unfortunate slip by Wes Fogden who, as he fell, cleverly produced the perfect pass for Ryan Moss who in turn pulled the ball back and away from home keeper Matt Lovett to Bowles who could only power his shot over the empty net from six yards.

Early in the second half, the lively Watson drilled a shot just wide of the far post while Beavers’ skipper Dean Wells tested his own keeper with a miscued clearance.

A superb tackle and through ball from Mark Jermyn looked to have set up Moss but Lovett stood his ground, forcing Moss wide and in the end the Dorchester striker could not force the ball home from an acute angle as Lovett stuck a hand out to deflect the ball away to safety.

The Magpies were then placed under a spell of pressure themselves as a looping header from Wright bounced off the top of their crossbar before, played through by strike partner McAuley, Wright lashed a low shot against the foot of a post.

But Dorchester hit straight back and perhaps should have equalised as Mudge’s centre was met by the diving Nicholson who could only head over. From another Mudge centre, Moss unsuccessfully attempted to chest the ball past Lovett.

But any chance of a Dorchester fight back was extinguished by the Beavers’ second goal.

Danny Clay shouted loud for a free-kick after he was fouled. Referee Ian Rathbone seemed to be playing an advantage but pulled play back for a free-kick which Stewart opted to take on the right wing just inside his own half.

But his kick across field fell to Yaku who, with the Dorchester defence stretched and keeper struggling to get back into position, picked out Wright who easily found the back of the net.

After that it was largely one way traffic as the dejected Magpies produced a string of late niggly fouls.

Substitute Steve Tyson headed over while Stewart did well to save one-handed from Yaku.

Francis Quarm fired over from 20 yards and Matthews curled a shot at Stewart as Borough ended the game in the driving seat.

Dorchester produced one more attempt when Tom Mitchell had a shot saved by Lovett in the second minute of stoppage time.