James Rowe celebrates his winning goal
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Simon Evans
2	Adam Cottrell
3	Jake Smeaton
4	Mark Jermyn
5	Bradley Middleton
6	Roy O'Brien
7	James Rowe
8	Tareq Khalil		81
9	Jones Awuah
10	Jamie Gleeson		89
11	Ivan Forbes
Substitutes
12	Jamie Cumming
14	Tom Mitchell		89
15	Darren Watts		81
16	Jon Docker
17	Gary Bowles
.
CAMBRIDGE CITY
1	Shane Herbert
2	Joe Bruce
3	Craig Radcliffe
4	Lee Chaffey
5	Dave Theobald
6	Mark E'Beyer		62
7	Steve Wales		56
8	Josh Simpson
9	Michael Gash
10	Neil Midgley		73
11	Ashley Fuller
Substitutes
12	Tom Youngs		73
14	Ben Bowditch		62
15	Stuart Wall
16	Lee Roache		56
17	Kieran Deane
.
Referee
L Collins (Aldershot)
.

Saturday 5th January 2008
		Dorchester Town	3
		Awuah 20, Khalil 26, Rowe 59
		Cambridge City	2
		Gash 36, 44

Rowe to the rescue

by Ky Capel

Dorchester recorded their first Blue Square South win since September as James Rowe's winning goal sunk Cambridge City at the Avenue Stadium.

The Magpies dominated the early exchanges and it was no surprise when Jones Awuah grabbed the opener. Tareq Khalil then scored with a spectacular strike on his home debut, only to see the Lilywhites level matters with two goals from Michael Gash before the half-time break.

But Rowe's strike proved enough for the Magpies who held on to earn a valuable three points in their bid for survival.

Although the inferior side for much of the half, it was the visitors who almost opened the scoring, but a tremendous save from Simon Evans denied Gash when the striker was afforded time to shoot in the Magpies' box.

Awuah threatened to get a shot away on 15 minutes but keeper Shane Herbert came out to save at the Ghanaian's feet after a pin-point pass from Mark Jermyn.

Sixty seconds later and Awuah went even closer, this time though, his header from James Rowe's free-kick flashed past the far post.

The Dorchester striker finally got his name on the score-sheet when he netted in the 21st minute. Good build up play involving Awuah and Jermyn presented Khalil with a chance to shoot but the former Bournemouth man was stopped in his tracks by Lee Chaffey's intervention.

However, the ball broke loose and Awuah was first to get a touch, and he put the hosts ahead.

Six minutes later and Dorchester found themselves two goals to the good. Awuah played a weighted pass to Ivan Forbes, whose first touch took him away from City defneder Joe Bruce and through on goal, but the Portuguese was thwarted by the feet of Herbert.

From the resulting corner Rowe played the ball short to Khalil, and on his home debut the midfielder, after cutting in from the right, unleashed a left-foot thunderbolt into the back of the net.

The Magpies looked comfortably and were dominant in all areas of the pitch, but a lapse in concentration let the visitors back into the game.

On 37 minutes Josh Simpson crossed from inside the Magpies' penalty area and just as it looked like the ball would go out of play, Gash found himself unmarked at the back post to slam home.

And things got worse for the Magpies just before the break. Gash's flick on wasn't dealt with by Bradley Middleton and Neil Midgley found himself with only Evans to beat, and he got to the ball first only to be tripped by the home keeper and see Middleton recover to clear the ball off the line.

Referee Collins though, after waiting to see if advantage could be played, blew for a free-kick on the edge of the box and booked Evans.

Gash stepped up and with the aid of a deflection found the back of the Dorchester net to bag his 20th goal of the season.

The second period started nervously but the Magpies didn't let their heads drop, and they almost regained the advantage.

Awuah though, when through on goal, was adjudged to have handled as he brought the ball down.

The home side escaped a couple scares when substitute Ben Bowditch couldn't find the power to beat Evans and then Chaffey's header missed the target.

But the Magpies responded and took the lead with a goal worthy of winning any game. After patient build-up play Rowe collected the ball and burst towards the penalty area where he played a neat one two with Awuah before calmly slotting the ball past Herbert.

The midfield man though, picked up a yellow card for his celebration and will now serve a one-match suspension.

Awuah and Forbes went close on separate occasions when the killer touch deserted them and the former was denied a clean strike at goal when he was brought down by City stopper Herbert with five minutes to go.

After consulting with his assistant the referee booked Herbert and awarded the Magpies a free-kick on the edge of the box, which came to nothing.

In the end Dorchester held on for a deserved victory and move up to 20th , just two points from safety.