Nick Crittenden evades a challenge
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Regan Coward
2	Kyle Critchell
3	Neil Martin
4	Mark Jermyn
5	Nathan Walker
6	Doug Bergqvist		66
7	Nick Crittenden
8	Reece Connolly
9	Chris Flood		70
10	Gary Bowles
11	Steve Devlin		90
Substitutes
12	Ryan Moss		70
14	Jamie Frampton
15	Adam Taylor
16	Jake Smeeton		90
17	Jamie Symes		66
DOVER ATHLETIC
1	Ross Flitney
2	Matt Fish
3	Thomas Wynter
4	Lewwis Spence
5	Ed Harris		87
6	Conner Essam
7	Harry Baker		83
8	Nathan Ashton		46
9	Donovan Simmonds
10	Adam Birchall
11	Barry Cogan
Substitutes
12	Elliott Charles		87
14	Jon Main		83
15	Sam Cutler
16	Luke I'Anson		46
17	Lee Hook
REFEREE
Alan Bird (Chippenham)

Saturday 16th April 2011
		Dorchester Town	0
		Dover Athletic	0

Magpies keep heads above water

by Ky Capel

It was honours even in an entertaining goalless draw between two sides desperate for the points – but for very different reasons.

The result keeps the Magpies’ heads above water at the wrong end of Blue Square Bet South – five points to be precise – while their opponents remain firmly in the hunt for a play-off berth.

However, both teams will have left the Avenue Stadium feeling as though they missed out on the chance to pick up a much-needed victory in their respective battles.

Dorchester’s best offering was spurned by Reece Connolly in the first half, while the Kent outfit went even closer – Donovan Simmonds denied by the woodwork.

Three changes were made from the county town side that dismantled Weymouth in the Dorset Senior Cup triumph last week.

Neil Martin returned at left-back, Doug Bergqvist came in at the heart of the defence, while Nick Crittenden overcame recent groin problems and replaced the injured James Coutts (hamstring).

Ryan Moss (toe) was only fit enough to take a spot on the bench so Connolly and Chris Flood continued in attack.

With the visitors chasing a coveted play-off spot, it was no surprise to see them make an eager start to proceedings.

But all they could produce was a wild effort from 42-goal hitman Adam Birchall.

Dorchester were in fact first to put the ball in the net, but the referee’s whistle had already gone after Connolly’s nudge on Connor Essam gave the former enough space to fire home.

The Aldershot Town loanee was presented with an even better opportunity to open the scoring 18 minutes in, but could only head straight at Ross Flitney in the Dover goal following Flood’s pin-point cross.

Steve Devlin and Gary Bowles also missed out with headed efforts as the hosts grew in confidence.

But just as Dorchester were in the ascendancy, the away side created their best opening of the half.

Fortunately for the home faithful, Regan Coward produced a decent stop to deny Harry Baker one-on-one.

Unperturbed, the county town charge continued and Flitney’s acrobatic save kept out another Connolly header before Bowles’ 25-yard free-kick forced the Dover gloveman into action once more.

The game was now end-to-end with Baker’s drive parried by Coward and Nathan Ashton blazing the rebound over the top.

The latter found the target seven minutes before the interval but Coward got down to his right and held on.

It was Dorchester who made the brighter start as the second period got underway and only a vital block from Essam prevented Mark Jermyn celebrating his 30th birthday with a goal.

The intensity began to wilt ever so slightly, with both defences still on top, but after a 15-minute war of attrition, Birchall gained his first real sight of goal.

However, the league’s top scorer was foiled by Coward.

The Magpies’ number one was finally beaten in the 71st minute but thankfully for him, the crossbar came to Dorchester’s rescue, thwarting Simmonds’ curling effort.

Dover were looking the more likely to break the deadlock at this point but it could so easily have been the Magpies who landed the first blow had someone gambled on Crittenden’s inviting centre.

Flitney was then called into action to save from substitute Moss as the hosts turned the screw yet again.

The visitors gambled and brought on two fresh forwards in Jon Main and Elliott Charles but they very nearly bust in the penultimate minute as Dorchester broke.

Devlin picked out Connolly at the far post and he knocked down for the onrushing Moss, who could only fire over.

The hosts’ leading marksman then shot into the arms of Flitney when perhaps he should have squared while at the other end Birchall nodded narrowly over to ensure a share of the spoils.

	MATCH STATS
12	TOTAL ATTEMPTS	15
7	ATTEMPTS ON TARGET	8
5	ATTEMPTS OFF TARGET	6
0	HIT WOODWORK	1
9	CORNERS	3
4	OFFSIDES	3
5	FREE-KICKS CONCEDED	11