Phil Walsh
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Mark Ovendale
2	Mark Jermyn		75
3	Jake Smeeton
4	Tom Mitchell
5	Kevin Hill
6	Gary Bowles
7	Nick Crittenden
8	Jamie Gleeson
9	Ryan Moss		54
10	Phil Walsh
11	Neil Martin		85
Substitutes
	Emmanuel Rodrigues		75
	Matt Groves		54
	Steve Devlin		85
	Ryan Hill
	Byrne
	Ben Wood
	Harry Nodwell
	Harry Montacute
BRISTOL CITY
1	Martin Lejsal
2	Christian Ribeiro		70
3	Jamie McCombe
4	Lewin Nyatanga
5	Tristan Plummer
6	Marvin Elliott
7	Paul Hartley
8	Gavin Williams
9	Michael McIndoe
10	John Akinde
11	Danny Haynes
Substitutes
	Louis Carey		70
	Nicky Maynard
	James Wilson
Referee
Mark Derrien (Dorchester)

Wednesday 22nd July 2009
		Dorchester Town	1
		Walsh 62
		Bristol City	2
		Akinde 31, Haynes pen 41

Robins rattled by dogged Magpies

by Ky Capel

Dorchester player-manager Roy O’Brien applauded his players for winning the second half against Championship side Bristol City last night.

The Magpies found themselves two goals down at the break after John Akinde’s close-range finish and a Danny Haynes penalty put City in control at the Jewson Stadium.

But the home side, watched by former boss Shaun Brooks, dug deep in the second period and pulled a goal back via Phil Walsh.

The Robins, managed by O’Brien’s former boss at Yeovil Town Gary Johnson, claimed the spoils but the county town chief was pleased with his players’ efforts.

He said: “They’re proving their fitness and competed against a good side, which I’m very grateful to Gary Johnson for bringing down.

“For us to play against them and compete for the majority of the game was very pleasing. The lads are shattered but are happy with how they played, especially in the second half.

“I told them that they won the second half 1-0 and against a side like Bristol that’s very pleasing. But there’s still a lot of work to do.

“The lads were very dogged and they earned the result, even though we lost. The goal we got was a good one and it was very pleasing for Walshy to get it especially as his dad works at Bristol City.

“It was good to see Gary as well and he said to always keep in contact if ever I want a chat, which is pleasing to know, especially with a man of his calibre.”

New faces out to impress O’Brien last night were former Exeter City man Neil Martin, who played on the left of midfield, and full-back Emmanuel Rodrigues, who came on as a second-half substitute.

O’Brien added: “Neil worked hard and he’s got a tidy left foot on him. I’d like to see more from him on the work-rate front but he looked positive going forward.

“Emmanuel came on for the last 15 minutes and he offered something. He pushed forward and helped free Nick Crittenden up. Overall I’m pleased.”

Mark Ovendale was preferred to Gustavo in goal, Walsh partnered Ryan Moss in attack while Martin occupied the left flank in a 4-4-2 formation.

After an action-free opening, Akinde had a goal ruled out for offside just past the quarter hour mark.

Four minutes later though, it was the hosts who almost had the ball in the back of net. Tom Mitchell’s threaded pass found Moss and he turned his man with ease but saw his shot beaten away by visiting keeper Dean Gerken.

The deadlock was broken by the higher-league outfit just past the half hour. Tristan Plummer displayed lightning pace before crossing for the unmarked Akinde to back heel the ball home.

And it was 2-0 four minutes before break as Haynes converted from the spot after Ovendale missed Plummer’s cross-field pass and clattered Gavin Williams instead.

Walsh was played in by Mitchell moments later but blazed high and wide when a pass across goal may have been the better option.

However, the Magpies’ striker made up for that miss by reducing the deficit in the 62nd minute. Nick Crittenden fired in a left-sided free-kick and Walsh guided the ball beyond Gerken.

Haynes should have made it three when clean through but he fired over the top.