Nick Crittenden heads the Magpies into a first-half lead
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Regan Coward
2	Harry Montacute		82
3	Neil Martin
4	Mark Jermyn
5	Gary Bowles
6	Ollie Barnes
7	Andre Costa
8	Jamie Gleeson
9	Phil Walsh
10	Matt Groves
11	Nick Crittenden
Substitutes
12	Kevin Hill		82
14	Jake Smeeton
15	Tom Mitchell
16	Harry Nodwell
17	Sam Filkins
GLOUCESTER CITY
1	Mike Green
2	James Baldwin
3	Lee Marshall
4	Marc Richards
5	Tom Hamblin
6	Matt Rose
7	Lee Smith
8	Tom Webb
9	Will Morford		64
10	Mike Symons
11	Jack Pitcher
Substitutes
12	Jack Harris		64
14	Alex Sykes
15	Neil Mustoe
16	James Palmer
17	Adie Harris
Referee
-

Saturday 26th September 2009
		Dorchester Town	1
		Crittenden 14
		Gloucester City	2
		Pitcher 67, Hamblin 71

Magpies crash out of cup

by Ky Capel

Dorchester Town’s FA Cup journey was brought to a halt at the hands of a second-half comeback from Gloucester City.

The Magpies took the lead at the Jewson Stadium courtesy of Nick Crittenden’s header but the hosts failed to build on their advantage and eventually caved in following immense pressure from the visitors with Jack Pitcher and Tom Hamblin booking City’s place in the fourth qualifying round.

The county town side named an unchanged line-up from the one that hammered Braintree the week before and they carried on from where they left off – creating a decent opening within 25 seconds.

However, Phil Walsh could only head Andre Costa’s right-sided cross wide of the City goal.

Gloucester mustered an equally good opportunity in the eighth minute when Mike Symonds poked through for Tom Webb.

Home keeper Regan Coward though, was quick off his line and made a brave stop at the feet of the Tigers’ captain.

The 13th minute was certainly unlucky for the visitors as Harry Montacute’s blatant trip on Pitcher, in the Magpies’ penalty area, went unpunished.

And to add insult to injury, the hosts went straight up the other end and opened the scoring.

Costa’s cross from the right looked to be heading out for a goal-kick, but Crittenden raided the far post and nodded home.

It was almost 2-0 six minutes later but Ollie Barnes saw his drive, after a Jamie Gleeson corner had not been properly cleared, crash off the frame of the goal and behind.

Coward then had to make two crucial interventions before James Baldwin sent a fizzing volley wide of the left upright.

At the other end, Mark Jermyn, who bagged four goals in his previous two outings, tried his luck from distance but to no avail.

The Magpies were again quick off the mark as the second half got underway but this time it was Matt Groves who was unable to get a telling contribution on Costa’s delivery.

However, from this point on it was all one-way traffic.

Pitcher, denied a spot-kick in the first half, wasted a glorious opportunity to equalise as he failed to find the target when Baldwin’s cross was allowed to reach the back stick.

The City pressure was mounting further and after Walsh did well to clear two corners, Marc Richards headed wide of Coward’s goal.

The Magpies were again left breathing a huge sigh of relief in the 65th minute when Pitcher, after out-pacing Gary Bowles, cracked a fierce effort against a post.

However, Pitcher’s persistent finally paid off as he made it all square – tucking home Symons’ knock down from substitute Jack Harris’ centre.

Gloucester deserved their equaliser and they completed the comeback four minutes later. Bowles was penalised for a foul right on the by-line, Lee Smith whipped in the set-piece and Hamblin got the all important touch.

The goal seemed to spark Dorchester into life and they almost grabbed an immediate equaliser through Jermyn. Unfortunately for the home side, the stand-in skipper saw his volley expertly palmed away by Mike Green.

Smith then forced a good stop from Coward before the Magpies had appeals for handball waved away by the referee.

Fit again Kevin Hill entered the fray for his first action since August 18 but not even his presence could help save the Magpies.

And their fate was sealed when, with the final kick of the game, Groves’ swivel and shot agonisingly came back off a post.