DORCHESTER 0

HEREFORD 1

Smith 61

DORCHESTER conceded their first goal at home in 421 minutes of football as an illness-ravaged Hereford side plundered maximum points thanks to a goal from Lance Smith in the 61st minute at the Avenue Stadium in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division.

After Smith headed the Bulls in front Steve Thompson's side nearly levelled the scores but Hereford were saved by their keeper Martin Horsell who saved with his feet to keep out a shot from Sam Lanahan  after he had been played through by a clever chip from Gary Bowles.

Lanahan was forced off shortly afterwards having taken a knock and later attended to by paramedics but later confirmed on social media that he was fine and at home.

Tom Blair and David Jerrard replaced Cameron Ebbutt and the injured Luke Winsper in the Dorchester starting line-up while Jason Brookes was included on the bench with Chris Clarke dropping out of the squad.

A virus had swept through the Hereford squad and their manager Peter Beadle was forced to name a much-changed defence and a youthful bench.

Nevertheless the Bulls still provided strong opposition from the outset with John Mills proving a constant threat.

After four minutes, Mills provided a through ball for Smith but his low rolling shot across the heavy Avenue Stadium pitch was comfortably smothered by Magpies keeper, Chris Weale.

Another dangerous cross from Mills was cut out by Ross Carmichael who then blocked another on the 18-yard line.

A Pablo Haysham corner was never properly cleared resulting in a chance for Calvin Dinsley whose effort was headed off the line by Kyle Egan. while Haysham's next corner was punched clear by Weale.

There was respite for the Dorchester defence as Blair's right wing cross was scooped awkwardly over his own crossbar by visiting captain Rob Purdie.

Shortly after that An Egan free-kick was blocked by Garyn Preen.

Hereford returned to the offensive with Mills unleashing a 20-yard drive over the bar and Callum Rose, who scooped the fans player of the month trophy for December presented prior to kick-off, pulled off a superb saving tackle to deny Mills another shooting chance.

The Bulls went mightily close to taking the lead on the half hour when a bullet strike from Jamie Bird struck the far post and rebounded to Smith who could only head over.

A mistake by Lanahan enabled Bird to race down the right wing but again Rose came to Dorchester's rescue with a timely intervention.

Mills then saw one shot blocked and another fly over towards the end of a goalless first half.

Thompson replaced Blair and Jerrard at the start of the second half with Ed Bastick and Ebbutt but it was the Bulls who registered the next two attempts albeit wayward ones from Billy Murphy and Smith.

Horsell had not yet had a shot to save but was called into action when substitutes Ebbutt and Bastick combined with the latter drawing a near post save.

The breakthrough came just past the hour when a deep corner from Haysham was returned across goal by Mills for Smith to powerfully head down and past Weale.

Dorchester so nearly sprung an instant equaliser but somehow Horsell saved with his feet to keep out a low shot from Lanahan who had skilfully been played through by Bowles.

In an end to end finish, Mills fired wide for Hereford while Horsell plucked out a dangerous cross from Rose.

A last ditch chance was thrown the Magpies way when Dinsley conceded a free kick but Archie Collins appeared caught in two minds as he pulled his set piece well wide of goal.

Dorchester are next in action when they face Gosport Borough away next weekend.

Dorchester: Weale, Egan, Martin, Rose, Carmichael, Bowles, Jerrard (Bastick 46), Lowes, Blair (Ebbutt 46) Lanahan (Panesar-Dower 74), Collins Subs not used: Griggs, Brookes

Hereford: Horsell, Purdie, Pring, Murphy, Dinsley, Liburd, Preen, Bird (Symons 84), Mills, Haysham, Smith. Subs not used: Cuss, Pugh, Hayes, Puddy

Attendance: 909

Referee: Phillip Eddie