Magpies' goalscorer Neil Martin
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Regan Coward
2	Ryan Hill
3	Kyle Critchell
4	Mark Jermyn		76
5	Nathan Walker		76
6	Gary Bowles
7	Neil Martin
8	Jamie Gleeson
9	Ryan Moss
10	Josh Llewellyn		73
11	Steve Devlin
Substitutes
12	Warren Byerley		73
14	Ollie Barnes
15	Nick Crittenden
16	Scott Brice		76
17	Harry Nodwell		76
BASINGSTOKE TOWN
1	Ross Kitteridge
2	Josh Webb
3	Matt Warner
4	Lewis Christon
5	Miles Mitchell-Coop		64
6	Matt Finlay
7	Benedict Akwuegbu		64
8	Tom Williamson
9	David Pratt
10	Jahson Downes		79
11	Jide Ogunbote
Substitutes
12	Chris Foyle
14	Grant Powell		79
15	Ryan Stephens		64
16	Sean Hankin		64
17	Lee Allen
Referee
-

Monday 5th April 2010
		Dorchester Town	6
		Martin 14, Bowles 25, Moss 30, Gleeson 41, Walker 62, R. Hill 74
		Basingstoke Town	1
		Akwuegbu 3

Magpies' six of the best

by Ky Capel

Following a dismal display on Good Friday, Dorchester Town responded in the best possible manner – recording their biggest ever win in Blue Square South.

Boss Ashley Vickers was looking for a reaction after the 2-0 defeat at Bath City and he certainly got it with birthday-boy Neil Martin, Gary Bowles, Ryan Moss, Jamie Gleeson, Nathan Walker and Ryan Hill all on target in the Magpies’ 6-1 victory over Basingstoke Town.

However, he had to see his men come from behind after Benedict Akwuegbu gave the visitors an early lead at the Avenue Stadium.

Vickers was forced to make three changes from Good Friday’s starting line-up. Skipper Kevin Hill (broken nose) and James Coutts (illness) were absent from the squad while Nick Crittenden was only fit enough to take a place on the bench.

In came Bowles, Gleeson and Martin while defender Ollie Barnes was recalled from his loan spell at Clevedon Town, to help cope with the shortage in numbers, and named among the substitutes.

After a poor performance at Twerton Park just three days previous, the Magpies came racing out of the blocks at the Avenue Stadium.

And with less than a minute on the clock, visiting keeper Ross Kitteridge was forced to parry a left-sided free-kick from Ryan Hill.

However, the hosts fell behind during Basingstoke’s first attack. Former Weymouth man Josh Webb raided the right side before digging out a floated cross that Akwuegbu nodded past Regan Coward.

Dorchester responded positively and ’Stoke skipper Matt Warner was forced to clear for a corner with Steve Devlin ready to pounce on Martin’s dangerous delivery.

Walker was then inches away from connecting with the resultant corner.

The home faithful only had to wait another three minutes to see their side grab an equaliser.

A long throw from Hill somehow made its way to the far post where Martin was on hand to steer home on his 21st birthday.

The away side though, would have restored their advantage midway through the half had it not been for the reactions of Coward.

David Pratt wriggled his way into space and created a clear sight of goal, but his snapshot was brilliantly saved by the home gloveman.

Dorchester took full advantage of that miss, completing the comeback with a 25th-minute header from Bowles.

The defender, making his first start since February 20, was at first denied by Kitteridge but from the subsequent corner, taken by Hill, the 21-year-old rose highest to power a header into the back of the net.

And it was 3-1 only five minutes later. Matt Finlay failed to clear Mark Jermyn’s long ball and was dispossessed by Moss.

The Magpies’ frontman was left with just Kitteridge to beat and he kept his cool to bag his 11th of the season.

Home debutant Josh Llewellyn teed up Moss for a possible fourth but the latter lost his balance at the vital moment.

And just seconds later, in the same attack, Walker poked narrowly wide of the left-hand upright.

The Magpies were finally rewarded with a three-goal cushion four minutes before the break.

A loose ball in the Basingstoke box was gathered by Gleeson and the midfielder side-stepped one man before sliding home.

Moss capitalised on another gift from Finlay early in the second period, only to see his drive from an acute angle held by Kitteridge.

Tom Williamson registered Basingstoke’s first attempt of the half 12 minutes in, volleying over from the edge of the penalty area.

The gap was further increased just past the hour when a Hill corner found its way to Walker at the back stick and his diving header marked his first goal for the county town club.

Dorchester were denied a sixth six minutes later when Moss was ruled offside after poking in a cross-cum-shot from Llewellyn.

But it eventually arrived in the 74th minute. Gleeson won a free-kick 25 yards out and dead-ball specialist Hill expertly found the bottom-right corner.

The game was dead as a contest and the last 15, with the sun still shining, had the feel of a pre-season friendly.

Nevertheless, the Magpies enjoyed a resounding, and richly deserved, victory that puts them two points behind their 14th-placed opponents, and with a game in hand.