Shaun Brooks

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Dorchester 4 - 5 Newport County

Duo to miss out on Setanta battle

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Fringe players fail to shine as Magpies exit Shield

by Ky Capel

Dorchester Town manager Shaun Brooks lamented his side's defensive frailties in last night's 5-4 extra-time defeat to Newport County in the Setanta Shield.

The Magpies' chief also vowed to ring the changes for this Saturday's Blue Square South clash with Hayes & Yeading United after watching his side throw away a 3-2 lead in the final minute of normal time and then lose by the odd goal in nine come the end of extra-time.

Brooks, who gave several of his fringe players the chance to impress, said: "If I'm honest I thought it was two poor teams out there. To concede five at home has answered some questions on a few of the players really.

"We played some of the squad players to give them some game time and see if they could step up to the plate but I don't think that at any time in the game we looked like keeping goals out. When Newport got the ball in and around our box you felt they'd score.

"I thought we were poor. It was a great game for the neutral but at times it was beyond belief how two Conference South sides were playing that standard of football.

"We missed certain players and there will be changes on Saturday with defenders who can do the job.

"We were slow picking up and organising, and there was no real will to get blocks in, which we had be doing in the early part of the season."

Despite his disappointment Brooks was full of praise for Brighton loanee Wes Fogden, who had yet another excellent game for the Magpies.

Brooks added: "I could play Wes in goal and he'd do a job for me simply because he's a terrific footballer. He knows the game and he's miles better than what we've got.

"I also felt that Mitchell Nicholson did well, scoring a goal and creating chances through sheer hard work, while Tom Mitchell also did okay as did Darren Watts, who we brought off because we wanted to move Wes into midfield and bring on a taller defender."

Brooks was also left counting the potential cost of another injury - this time to Aussie forward Nicholson.

The county town boss said: "We're unsure about Mitch's injury. He's got a medial knee ligament problem, hopefully not as severe as Mark Jermyn's, so we'll have to assess it in the next couple of days. But we are down to the bare bones."

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