Hawks grounded

Brett Poate grabbed a late goal for the Hawks with a well struck free-kick but it was not enough to cancel out first half strikes from Jamie Gleeson and Jamie Mudge as the Magpies survived late pressure.

Nathan Peprah-Annan replaced suspended striker Ryan Moss and weighed in with an assist for the opening goal after just six minutes.

A strong substitutes’ bench included fit again Wes Fogden, who was introduced late in the game, and Roy O’Brien who along with Portugese newcomer Helder Rodrigues did not see any action.

Rodrigues has been training with the Magpies for two months but has been unable to play thus far as he was awaiting international clearance.

The first chance of the match was carved out by the Hawks but centre-back Gary Elphick headed well wide when he met a second minute free-kick delivered by Poate.

Former Dorchester winger Charlie Henry was then caught offside as he raced on to a through ball from home skipper Jamie Collins.

But the breakthrough went Dorchester’s way following a foul by Gary Holloway on Gleeson. Nick Crittenden’s 25 yard free-kick was chested down by emergency forward Peprah-Annan to Gleeson who rolled the ball between post and Hawks’ keeper Kevin Scriven from 18 yards.

Stunned Havant & Waterlooville tried to hit back quickly and another Poate free-kick was met by Ian Simpemba whose far post header was saved by Magpies’ gloveman Gareth Stewart.

Then, following a scramble in the Dorchester six-yard box, Danny Clay showed impressive composure to dribble his way out to clear the danger.

The Magpies nearly grabbed a second goal with a clever free-kick following a foul on Mudge. The ball was played short by Gleeson to Mitchell Nicholson but his final ball, which would have given Mudge a free shot on goal, took a slight deflection off a Hawks’ defender.

Another ball aimed at Mudge, this time from Gleeson, was well read by Scriven who dived to claim the ball at the Dorchester striker’s feet. Then Peprah-Annan left a cross from Crittenden for Nicholson who forced a save from Scriven with a low 20-yard drive.

Dorchester surged forward again and Mudge moved into space from the wing before firing goalward from 20 yards only to see Scriven re-adjust his position to save.

Scriven saved another Mudge effort with a little more ease shortly after then again raced out to dive on the ball as Mudge tried to run on to a Nicholson through ball.

Stewart then parried a Henry shot at his near post but also managed to push the ball out of play off the Hawks’ winger.

But with three minutes of the first half remaining, a miskick from Nicholson worked to Dorch-ester’s advantage as the ball rolled on to the lively Mudge who drove a fierce shot past Scriven into the bottom left corner from 20 yards.

The visitors adopted a cautious approach after the break partly in response to a more determined start from their hosts. Holloway and Paul Booth both saw early efforts deflect for corners while Elphick had a close range stab saved by Stewart.

But despite their early second half pressure, it was Dorchester who came mightily close to scoring again in the 58th minute when a Mudge shot was half-cleared enabling him to have a second attempt and this time he unleashed a tremendous 30-yard drive which Scriven acrobatically pushed over the crossbar.

The resultant corner was taken by Mudge and met by Patrece Liburd who nodded down to Hill whose shot was blocked.

As the half progressed, the Magpies began to defend deeper. A pass from Jay Conroy was miskicked by Collins giving Stewart a comfortable save while last man Liburd showed good timing and composure to tackle Robbie Matthews and steer the ball back to his keeper.

The Hawks continued to press and a cross from Poate was met by Elphick but headed weakly at Stewart who then turned a cross from Henry around his near post.

Liburd headed off the Dorch-ester goal-line to frustrate Booth while Elphick met another Poate free-kick only to head wide of the far post.

But with nine minutes remaining Dorchester handed the Hawks a lifeline. Crittenden conceded a free-kick 25 yards from goal which the influential Poate drove into the top right corner to give home fans hope and Dorchester’s travelling support some anxious late moments.

But Dorchester survived the inevitable pressure to pull off a rare and well-earned victory at Westleigh Park.

n Midfielder Darren Watts has joined BGB Southern League Division One South & West outfit Winchester City on a month’s loan.