The Jewson Stadium
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Simon Evans
2	Jamie Cumming
3	Jake Smeaton		67
4	Mark Jermyn
5	Roy O'Brien
6	Alex Browne
7	Ivan Forbes
8	Danny Clay
9	Jones Awuah
10	Tom Clarke
11	Jamie Gleeson		60
Substitutes
12	Tareq Khalil
14	Jon Docker		67
15	James Rowe		60
16	Gary Bowles
17	Mitchell Nicholson
.
BISHOP'S STORTFORD
1	Andy Young
2	Matt Jones
3	Danny Lunan
4	Edwards
5	Paul Goodacre
6	Rob Gillman
7	Tim Langer		67
8	Tom Williamson
9	Greg Pearson
10	Danny Harris		86
11	Ahmed Deen		83
Substitutes
12	Jason Mason		67
14	Steffan Gaisie		86
15	Sam Taylor		83
16	Michael Stanbrook
17	Joe Welch
.
Referee
Kevin Johnson (Weston-super-Mare)
.

Tuesday 12th February 2008
		Dorchester Town	0
		Bishop's Stortford	4
		Harris 25, Deen 52, Pearson 61, 74

Avenue surrender

by Ky Capel

Another game and another defeat for Dorchester Town who on this evidence will have to conjure up one of the most astonishing escape acts if they are to beat the drop from the Blue Square South.

The visiting Blues became the second team in four days to put four goals past the Magpies at the Jewson Stadium thanks to strikes from Danny Harris and Ahmed Deen and Greg Pearson's brace.

Contrary to the final score the Magpies made a positive start to the match and almost took an eighth minute lead through Tom Clarke, the ex-Yeovil teenager seeing his volleyed effort go agonisingly wide of the far post after Paul Goodacre's clearing header lacked distance.

Clarke then skipped past one defender but lacked the finish to match as his shot from distance trickled wide.

The early signs looked good for the struggling hosts with Ivan Forbes, back from injury, displaying the forward running they had dearly missed in recent weeks.

But the game swung back in Bishop's favour on 25 minutes.

Although lashing an early effort wide Harris scored with Stortford's first genuine chance.

Craig Edwards was afforded time and space to advance towards the Dorchester penalty area and he clipped the ball in Harris' direction.

And the visiting forward swivelled before volleying past Simon Evans, a goal that could so easily have been avoided.

Two minutes later the visitors should have found themselves two goals to the good, but Evans did well to save from Pearson who found himself with a clear sight of goal following Harris' flick forward.

The Magpies though, in reaction, nearly levelled proceedings and it was Clarke again who had the chance.

Jamie Cumming's 40-yard pass was headed back across goal by Clarke, however, his effort narrowly evaded the far post.

The final action of the half saw Deen's deflected cross almost drop in at the far post.

The half-time team talk appeared to have the desired effect when Clarke played in strike partner Jones Awuah 60 seconds after the restart but the Ghanaian, after beating the offside calls, struggled to get the ball under control and eventually fired a shot wide of goal.

But the momentum didn't last long as the Blues extended their advantage. After Roy O'Brien gave away a free-kick right on the edge of his own box, skipper Alex Browne upended Pearson in the exact same place a minute later.

Deen struck the first effort, from O'Brien's foul, into the wall but given a second chance he curled it beautifully into the top corner leaving Evans without a prayer.

The home side looked for an immediate reply. Cumming set Danny Clay free down the right-hand side and he played a low ball into the box for the onrushing Forbes, but his effort was deflected out for a corner.

Stortford then saw three efforts go astray as Harris hooked a shot wide, Pearson headed over unmarked and the former curled a ball just past Evans' far post.

But their pressure paid off with a third goal in comical fashion. Deen's corner from the left was swung in to the near post where Evans flapped at a punch with players in front of him, including Pearson, and the ball crept over the line to be credited in favour of Pearson despite many of his team-mates congratulating Harris in the aftermath.

The embarrassment wasn't over yet for the home supporters who then witnessed Pearson tapping in from close range following Harris' low ball across the face of goal.

Pearson should have registered his hat-trick minutes later but with only Evans to beat he was denied by the feet of the county town stopper.

Dorchester finally managed their first shot on target with 11 minutes to play but Clarke's effort was easily gathered by Andy Young in the Blues' net.

Rob Gillman somehow missed out on a fifth Stortford goal late on when he failed to connect with Sam Taylor's downward header from just a yard out.

Striker Jones Awuah was presented with January's Player of the Month award by the supporters' club prior to kick-off last night.

	MATCH STATS
7	TOTAL ATTEMPTS	8
1	ATTEMPTS ON TARGET	4
6	ATTEMPTS OFF TARGET	4
0	HIT WOODWORK	0
1	CORNERS	7
3	OFFSIDES	0
11	FREE-KICKS CONCEDED	8