The Avenue Stadium
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Dan Thomas
2	Kyle Critchell
3	Jake Smeeton
4	Mark Jermyn
5	Nathan Walker
6	Doug Bergqvist		84
7	Neil Martin
8	Chris Flood
9	Ryan Moss
10	Reece Connolly
11	Steve Devlin
Substitutes
12	Adam Taylor		84
14	Ashley Vickers
15	Lee White
16	Steve Gilbert
17	Regan Coward
DARTFORD
1	Andrew Young
2	Billy Burgess
3	Tom Bonner
4	Joe Bruce
5	Paul Goodacre
6	Tom Champion
7	Lee Noble
8	Lee Burns
9	Danny Harris
10	Jon Main
11	Elliot Bradbrook
Substitutes
12	Ryan Hayes
14	Carl Rook
15	Matt Jones
16	Deren Ibrahim
REFEREE
Paul Rees (Portishead)

Tuesday 22nd February 2011
		Dorchester Town	0
		Dartford	2
		Harris 73, Noble 88

Darts too sharp for Magpies

by Ky Capel

Dorchester Town failed to ease their relegation fears and instead suffered a worrying defeat at home to fellow strugglers Dartford.

Once again the Magpies had more than enough chances to determine their destiny but their failure to convert was punished as the Darts claimed all three Blue Square Bet South points and became the first side to beat county town gloveman Dan Thomas.

The AFC Bournemouth loanee’s impressive run came to an end after 343 cumulative minutes – Danny Harris netting the opening goal before Lee Noble put the game out of reach.

The outcome of last night’s clash leaves the Magpies just two points clear of the drop-zone.

Saturday’s injury to James Coutts saw a single change made to the side that lined up against Bromley.

Aldershot Town forward Reece Connolly was handed his county town debut and partnered Ryan Moss in attack, with Chris Flood occupying the right wing.

With Nick Crittenden suffering a recurrence of his recent hamstring complaint, another new arrival – Adam Taylor – took his spot on the bench.

Defender Steve Gilbert, who has been on dual registration with Holt United, was drafted in to complete the match-day squad.

Although being forced to move out wide, Flood helped create an early sight of goal for the home side.

The 21-year-old found Moss on the right edge of the box and he centred for Connolly, whose improvised effort was blocked by a defender.

Supporters’ eyes lit up when the loose ball sat kindly for Neil Martin but he could only scuff wide on his weaker right foot.

The Magpies were forcing much of the early play and saw Moss fire over the top after a Steve Devlin corner was insufficiently cleared.

The home striker was to go even closer in the 18th minute when he gambled on Connolly’s flick but, having won the chase with Darts’ keeper Andrew Young, nodded the wrong side of the left-hand post.

Nathan Walker then headed wide from Mark Jermyn’s hanging cross before visiting defender Billy Burgess cleared in front of his own goal with Young beaten by Flood’s low drive.

The visitors took a full 42 minutes to register their first attack of note – Lee Burns screwing harmlessly wide – and it remained goalless at the break for the third home match in succession.

The deadlock was almost broken in empathic fashion two minutes into the restart but after bursting past one man, Devlin’s 30-yard strike narrowly escaped the bottom corner.

Dorchester then survived their first nervy moment at the other end. Kyle Critchell, sporting a late winter snood and a pair of tights as he fought illness, saw his clearance crash off the back of a visiting striker and Thomas got the slightest of touches to ensure Burns’ volley cleared the bar.

The let-off was duly noted and only a fine interception from Joe Bruce prevented Connolly nabbing a debut goal, after superb work from Flood down the right flank.

Devlin had clearly set his sights on a third goal of the campaign and was not far away with a 35-yard free-kick after the midway stage of the second period.

For all their forays, the Magpies were struggling to put Young to the test. In contrast, Dartford, although creating fewer opportunities than their hosts, did draw a fantastic block from Thomas at the feet of Harris.

And that warning went unheeded as the Darts drew first blood with 17 minutes to go.

Having beaten Walker, Harris was denied by the Magpies’ other centre-half – Doug Bergqvist. But the rebound fell favourably and the visiting number nine slotted past a helpless Thomas from 10 yards out.

Dorchester thought they would be given the perfect chance to respond when Jermyn’s cross clearly struck the hand of Tom Champion inside the penalty area.

The referee though, failed to spot the infringement – much to the amazement of the Avenue Stadium faithful.

Ashley Vickers went to three at the back as midfielder Taylor came on for the injured Bergqvist.

There was to be one final goal in the penultimate minute but it went the way of Dartford.

Jon Main played in Noble and the diminutive winger slotted under the advancing Thomas to end all remaining hope.

	MATCH STATS
11	TOTAL ATTEMPTS	8
2	ATTEMPTS ON TARGET	5
9	ATTEMPTS OFF TARGET	3
0	HIT WOODWORK	0
10	CORNERS	3
0	OFFSIDES	4
8	FREE-KICKS CONCEDED	12