Matt Groves
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Regan Coward
2	Gary Bowles
3	Neil Martin
4	Ian Selley
5	Phil Walsh
6	Ollie Barnes
7	Steve Devlin
8	Mark Jermyn
9	Ryan Moss
10	Matt Groves
11	Louis Lavers		67
Substitutes
12	Andre McCollin		67
14	Matt Groves
15	Jamie Gleeson
16	Harry Nodwell
17	Harry Montacute
WORCESTER CITY
1	Jake Meredith
2	Kevin Spencer
3	Shabhir Khan
4	Craig Wilding
5	Wayne Daniel
6	Mark Clyde
7	Matthew Birley
8	Gary Walker
9	Rob Elvins
10	Marco Adaggio
11	Matt Dinsmore		82
Substitutes
12	Alfie Carter		82
14	Marc McGregor
15	Marvin Brown
16	Rob Davies
17	Louis Bridges
Referee
-

Saturday 14th November 2009
		Dorchester Town	1
		Groves 69
		Worcester City	1
		Wilding 54

Matt finish salvages point for Magpies

by Ky Capel

Matt Groves’ seventh goal of the season helped Dorchester Town rescue a point against fellow strugglers Worcester City.

After a rather subdued first half, hampered by the extremely windy conditions, Craig Wilding opened the scoring nine minutes into the second period to set Worcester on their way to a first win on the road since February.

However, an inspired substitution from manager Roy O’Brien saw Andre McCollin, a 67th minute replacement for Louis Lavers, set up Groves for a simple finish.

And the draw ensured the Magpies remain three points clear of 19th-placed City in the Blue Square South table.

O’Brien made three changes following the 2-1 defeat to Eastleigh in midweek. Lavers replaced Jamie Gleeson, Groves started ahead of McCollin while Ollie Barnes, facing his old club, came in for the suspended Ashley Vickers.

Both sides found it difficult to get going in such blustery surroundings and it took 15 minutes for the first effort of note to arrive.

A Matt Dinsmore cross from the left was headed out by Dorchester’s Neil Martin but only as far as Gary Walker, whose 20-yard volley proved comfortable for Regan Coward in the home goal.

The Magpies were almost gifted a clean sight of goal four minutes later as visiting keeper Jake Meredith came flying out of his area only to slice his clearance.

Luckily for the City debutant, his defenders were on hand to snuff out the danger with Ryan Moss looking to capitalise.

The home supporters were given some encouragement in the 27th minute when Mark Jermyn found Groves and he hooked a shot over Meredith from an acute angle. The effort looked to be heading off target but it still needed Walker to hack clear with other Magpies lurking.

Walker made an even more important interception moments later as he cleared off the goal-line after Ian Selley’s corner had taken a deflection.

The Worcester midfielder, arguably the busiest man on the field, provided a telling touch at the other end but after turning in Wayne Daniel’s cross from the right Walker’s effort was ruled out for offside.

Groves went close once more four minutes before the break. Steve Devlin delivered a low ball, Groves got the slightest of touches but Wilding was in the right place to block.

Dorchester chalked up their first shot on target 30 seconds into the second period and it was Groves, somewhat predictably, who provided it.

Selley’s initial shot was blocked, Groves picked up the rebound and tried his luck with a curling effort from 20 yards. Meredith though, dived to his left and made the save.

Phil Walsh, continuing his role at the heart of the county town defence, poked over the top after Meredith had dropped a Devlin free-kick, and the Magpies paid the ultimate price as City went straight up the other end and broke the deadlock.

Dinsmore teed up Wilding and the midfielder drilled a low shot into the bottom left corner from the edge of the Magpies’ penalty area.

O’Brien brought on McCollin midway through the half to bolster his side’s potency.

And the substitution paid immediate dividends as the Yeovil loanee drove down the left side before perfectly cutting the ball back for Groves to fire in at the near post.

Shabir Khan and Dorchester’s Gary Bowles almost came to blows late on – the latter chasing the former after Khan prevented the Magpies taking a quick throw – and the duo were subsequently booked.

Jermyn was inches away from connecting with Martin’s left-sided delivery in the 86th minute but it was the visitors who came closest to snatching victory in the closing stages.

Marco Adaggio had time and space 25 yards out and he unleashed a rocket that cannoned back off a post, much to the relief of the home contingent.