Steve Devlin scores the winning goal
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Simon Evans
2	Gary Bowles
3	Kyle Critchell
4	Mark Jermyn
5	Nathan Walker
6	Kevin Hill
7	Nick Crittenden
8	James Coutts
9	Ryan Moss
10	Jules Emati-Emati		76
11	Steve Devlin
Substitutes
12	Neil Martin
14	Matt Groves		76
15	Ryan Hill
16	Sam Charles
17	Harry Nodwell
THURROCK
1	Joe Woolley
2	Craig Pope
3	Phil Anderson
4	Rob Swaine		66
5	Kenny Clark
6	Matt Paine		83
7	Matt Bodkin
8	Leon Lalite
9	David Bryant		72
10	Leon McKenzie
11	Fola Orilonishe
Substitutes
12	Paul Olima		66
14	Lee Flynn		83
15	Matthew Judge		72
16	Ryan Andrews
17	Jamie Doyle
Referee
-

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
		Dorchester Town	1
		Devlin 78
		Thurrock	0

Deadly Devlin sinks Fleet

by Ky Capel

Steve Devlin scored his second goal in as many games as Dorchester secured back-to-back wins in Blue Square South for the first time this season.

The tenacious midfielder struck with 12 minutes to go at the Jewson Stadium to see the Magpies finally prevail in a match that should have been dead and buried by half-time.

The victory, which extended Dorchester’s unbeaten run to four games, lifts the county town side to 16th place and nine points clear of the relegation zone – albeit having played more fixtures than all the sides below them.

The Magpies were forced to make one change from Saturday’s starting XI with Gary Bowles coming in for the injured Jake Smeeton. However, Kyle Critchell moved to left-back with Bowles filling in on the right side.

Caretaker-boss Ashley Vickers expressed a desire to catch his opponents cold prior to the match and his side heeded the call, totally dominating the first half.

It did however, take 12 minutes for the Magpies to move out of first gear when a smart pass from Devlin appeared to put Jules Emati-Emati in the clear only for a last-ditch challenge from Rob Swaine to deny the Dorchester striker.

Emati-Emati found the net four minutes later but saw his header, following good work from Mark Jermyn to win the ball and a dangerous cross from Nick Crittenden, ruled out for offside.

Ryan Moss volleyed wide from 25 yards before a Crittenden centre was nodded across goal by Devlin.

However, neither James Coutts nor Moss could get the vital touch and Thurrock were able to clear their lines.

For all their pressure, it wasn’t until the 26th minute that the Magpies chalked up their first effort on target.

Devlin picked out Moss, who chested the ball into his path and fired low, but visiting keeper Joe Woolley blocked with his legs.

Woolley then made an excellent double save before Emati-Emati blazed over from close-range – all in the 33rd minute.

The Magpies’ striker did well to beat his man in the right corner, cut inside and feed the onrushing Moss, but Woolley was equal to the shot and showed great reactions to keep out Devlin’s follow-up.

The gloveman looked helpless when the ball fell to Emati-Emati eight yards out but he cleared the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

The last chance of the half fell to Crittenden but he was also unable to beat Woolley, who made a fantastic point-blank save.

Dorchester were almost made to pay for their profligacy four minutes into the second half as a rare slip by Kevin Hill enabled Matt Bodkin to cross from the right and pick out David Bryant. However, with just home keeper Simon Evans to beat, the Thurrock striker scuffed wide from only six yards and the hosts breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Evans then saved from Fola Orilonishe before a Devlin cross drifted agonisingly behind the run of Emati-Emati.

Dorchester were struggling to rediscover the momentum they had built up in the first-half and visitors sensed an opportunity to pinch three points - Bryant sending a header looping over the top on 70 minutes.

But Matt Groves entered the fray, replacing Emati-Emati with 14 minutes left, and the Magpies’ leading scorer made an immediate impact – despite not knowing much about it.

A low cross from the right ricocheted off Groves and fell invitingly for the oncoming Devlin, whose driven shot took a deflection en route to the back of the Thurrock net.

Groves had a chance of his own in the 88th minute but after winning possession himself, the home substitute pulled his effort wide of the left-hand post.