DORCHESTER TOWN 4 THURROCK 3 DORCHESTER recorded their third Blue Square South victory in eight days including back-to-back home wins.

The Magpies, who have now moved up to 13th place in the Blue Square South, conceded an early goal but stormed back to dominate this thrilling fixture played on a heavy pitch following torrential overnight rain.

Jamie Mudge scooped a deserved man of the match award after grabbing a hat-trick which included a stunning second goal.

It was Wes Fogden who grabbed the goal which started the fight back after Leon McKenzie had struck first for the visitors in the second minute.

Fogden and Mudge both struck for the Magpies but Mark Wright hauled the visitors level in first-half stoppage time.

Two further strikes from Mudge gave Dorchester a commanding lead after the break but an opportunist strike seven minutes from time by Thurrock substitute David Bryant ensured a nervy finish which the Magpies, who came close to scoring again when Mudge struck the woodwork, deservedly survived.

And to add to a very satisfying afternoon for the county town side, central defender Roy O’Brien completed 30 minutes on his comeback trail from injury having replaced Patrece Liburd on the hour.

The match had barely entered the second minute when Danny Hart surged into the Dorchester box and unleashed a fierce low drive which Magpies’ keeper Gareth Stewart could not hold allowing McKenzie to tap home the loose ball.

The hosts soon hit back and a corner from Nick Crittenden found Kevin Hill whose volley was aimed a little too close to Thurrock keeper Joe Woolley.

A superb through ball from Gary Bowles looked to have set up a shooting chance for Ryan Moss but the former Bashley striker dithered and the chance was lost.

The county town side were enjoying all the possession at this stage and an 18-yard drive from Fogden was saved by Woolley.

The busy Thurrock gloveman was quickly back in action pushing aside a shot from Mudge who had been played through by Fogden.

Next it was Mark Jermyn’s turn to be the provider with a cross from the left which Fogden collected then rounded his marker and attempted a lob to the top corner. But Woolley dived to his right to claw aside his effort.

Another Crittenden corner nearly proved fruitful for the Magpies but Bowles headed just over at the near post. Little was seen of the Thurrock strike force although McKenzie drilled a low angled shot well wide and Wright fired a free-kick over the bar from 25 yards.

Dorchester secured a deserved equaliser in the 34th minute when Mudge dispossessed Rob Swaine to centre for Moss whose shot rebounded off a defender to Fogden. The former Brighton man found the bottom corner with a low shot through a crowded six-yard box.

Three minutes later, Dorchester took the lead when Jermyn’s cross from the left was met by the unmarked Mudge who directed an inch-perfect header back across goal and into the top corner leaving Woolley wrong-footed.

But Thurrock cut short Dorch-ester’s celebrations with an equaliser in the first minute of stoppage time when Andy Sambrook found Wright in space and he beat Stewart with a firm 18-yard drive.

For Magpies’ fans among another disappointing Jewson Stadium crowd of just 357, the second half proved even more exciting.

Woolley parried an early shot from Moss but in the 50th minute, Jermyn played a perfect ball down the left wing for Mudge who spotted the Thurrock keeper slightly out of position and unleashed a 30-yard angled drive which crashed into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Stewart showed good concentration as Thurrock skipper Lee Flynn immediately unleashed a long-range drive which the Dorchester stopper dived to parry to safety.

Back came the Magpies and another precision centre from Jermyn picked out Moss who glanced a header just wide of the far post.

Mudge then completed his hat-trick, finding the gap between keeper and post with a low 20-yard shot in the 70th minute.

Further efforts from substitute Mitch Nicholson and Jermyn were blocked.

Moss then fired straight at Woolly while from a Moss centre, a ferocious Mudge volley deflected wide for a Dorchester corner.

Moss lost possession to the last defender as the Magpies outnumbered their visitors in attack and that wasted opportunity gained added significance when Bryant reduced the arrears seven minutes from time lashing home a loose ball on the edge of the Magpies six-yard box.

But Dorchester were in no mood to let their lead slip again and came within inches of adding a fifth goal when Mudge struck the foot of a post with an 18-yard shot.

The ball rebounded back to Mudge again who this time drove narrowly wide of the same post.