Francisco Ramos kept a clean sheet
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Francisco Ramos
2	Jamie Cumming
3	Jake Smeaton
4	Danny Clay
5	Patrece Liburd
6	Roy O'Brien
7	Mark Jermyn		60
8	James Rowe
9	Jones Awuah
10	Nick Eastham		74
11	Jamie Gleeson
Substitutes
12	Alex Browne
14	Gary Bowles
15	Tom Mitchell
16	Jon Docker		74
17	Ivan Forbes		60
.
BOGNOR REGIS TOWN
1	Craig Stoner
2	Charlie Balfe
3	Seb Wallis-Tayler
4	Scott Harris		49
5	Duncan Jupp
6	Chris Breach
7	Chris Greatwich		55
8	Scott Chamberlain
9	Dan Beck
10	Saheed Sankoh		66
11	Alex Haddow
Substitutes
12	Luke Nightingale		49
14	Mark Knee		66
15	David Birmingham		55
16	Carl Dunk
.
Referee
Paul Forrester (Luton)
.

Saturday 8th March 2008
		Bognor Regis Town	0
		Dorchester Town	0

Magpies fail to break the Rocks

by Terry Spracklen

Dorchester made it four draws in five with a goal-less encounter at Bognor Regis Town - but probably travelled back along the south coast rueing the fact they had not registered their first Blue Square South win in two months.

Neither side could really complain at having to share the spoils at the end of a game which was scrappy yet quite open.

But when the Magpies introduced substitutes Ivan Forbes and Jon Docker in the second half, they began to cause the Rocks' defence real problems and wasted three decent opportunities in the final 20 minutes.

The draw, coupled with Welling's defeat at Bromley, left Dorchester five points from safety, although the team above them in the bottom three, St Albans, thrashed Basingstoke 4-1.

Dorchester boss Shaun Brooks must have thought had Forbes and Docker started his side might have claimed all three points at Nyewood Lane.

Forbes replaced Mark Jermyn on 59 minutes and almost scored with his first involvement.

He was played clear inside the box but his well-struck shot was saved by Bognor keeper Craig Stoner. Nick Eastham hit the follow-up into the side-netting.

Then twice in two minutes, Dorchester went close to grabbing what would surely have been a winner.

First Docker tried to lob Stoner from 30 yards and almost succeeded - the ball dipping just too late as the keeper scrambled back.

Then Docker played in Forbes whose low cross-cum-shot went inches wide of a post.

In between those two chances, Bognor had missed one of their own as Francisco Ramos saved at the feet of substitute Mark Knee.

Bognor had carved out the first chance of the afternoon on nine minutes, but the unmarked Saheed Sankoh headed wide when Alex Haddow picked him out with a cross from the left.

The Rocks had most of the early possession but at the other end, Stoner was quick out of his goal to stop Jones Awuah having an opportunity.

Home midfielder Scott Harris was the first of a number of players to be booked in an often-physical tussle. He saw yellow when he was slightly late with a sliding tackle on his opposite number Danny Clay.

Dorchester threatened again on 32 minutes when Stoner did well to clear Duncan Jupp's heavy back pass. Then the keeper had to clear twice as Eastham chased a teasing through-ball to the edge of the box.

James Rowe fired a low drive just wide, while as Bognor regained the initiative before the break, Chris Greatwich's cross looked destined for Beck but Ramos palmed it away from danger.

Stoner's punch denied Awuah a free header at goal and the striker needed treatment to a knock on the head.

After the break, Awuah cleared the stand roof with a half-volley before Rocks' substitute and forrmer Terra Luke Nightingale announced his arrival with a volley that forced Ramos into a sharp save at his near post.

Then came the introduction of Forbes and although he gave the Magpies more strength up front, it was still a game in which either side looked capable of scoring.

Apart from those Forbes and Docker chances at one end - as well as two or three attacks that were halted by a linesman's offside flag - Nightingale, Beck and Haddow might all have done better with efforts on goal for the home side.

Visiting defender Patrece Lib-urd was booked after an off the ball incident just outside the area with 18 minutes left.

The free-kick led to a free header for Nightingale but he glanced it wide.

At the final whistle Dorchester were the more disappointed team not to have claimed the three points.

But they can take heart from the way they battled against an impressive Bognor side who tried to play free-flowing football.

If the Magpies can turn draws into victories they have every chance of survival in the Blue Square South.

	MATCH STATS
12	TOTAL ATTEMPTS	12
5	ATTEMPTS ON TARGET	4
7	ATTEMPTS OFF TARGET	8
0	HIT WOODWORK	0
3	CORNERS	3
1	OFFSIDES	5
14	FREE-KICKS CONCEDED	13