Nathan Walker heads into a 2-0 lead
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Regan Coward
2	Kyle Critchell		34
3	Jake Smeeton
4	Mark Jermyn
5	Nathan Walker
6	Gary Bowles
7	Nick Crittenden		85
8	Neil Martin		25
9	Ryan Moss
10	Chris Flood
11	Steve Devlin
Substitutes
12	Jamie Frampton
14	Jamie Gleeson		25
15	Jamie Symes		34
16	James Coutts		85
17	Adam Taylor
FARNBOROUGH
1	Michael Jordan
2	Osei Sankofa
3	Craig Braham-Barrett
4	Jack King
5	Jamie Stevens
6	James Smith		46
7	Jay Davies
8	Gary Holloway
9	Paul Booth		76
10	Dean McDonald
11	Dale Binns
Substitutes
12	Daryl McMahon		46
14	Owen Price
15	Michael Malcolm		76
16	Jay Conroy
17	Nic Ciardini
REFEREE
Derek Eaton (Tewkesbury)

Monday 25th April 2011
		Dorchester Town	2
		Critchell 5, Walker 29
		Farnborough	1
		King 80

Relief for Magpies

by Ky Capel

A superb first-half display ensured Dorchester Town will be playing Blue Square Bet South football once more next season.

Keen to avoid a nervy final day of the campaign this Saturday, the Magpies came out all guns blazing yesterday and took a fifth-minute lead through Kyle Critchell’s second goal in only three days.

Nathan Walker doubled the cushion just before the half-hour in a hugely one-sided first half.

Farnborough awoke from their slumber in the second period and showed some remnants of their lofty position in the table, but a close-range volley from Jack King, 10 minutes from time, was all they had to show for their renewed efforts.

Ironically, the hosts did not even need a fifth league triumph on home soil to secure survival as both Lewes, who are relegated as a result, and Thurrock failed to win.

With Critchell’s car successfully negotiating the Relief Road and making it to the Avenue Stadium on time, the full-back regained his place in the Magpies’ defence – the only change from Saturday’s draw with Maidenhead.

Chasing a win to confirm their league status, the hosts made a bright start at a sun-soaked Avenue and could have found themselves in front inside the opening minute.

Chris Flood breezed past Jamie Stevens but saw his effort smothered by the onrushing Michael Jordan.

Flood looked extremely lively in the early exchanges and his persistence earned a fifth-minute corner.

Saturday’s point was won by Critchell heading home a Steve Devlin corner, and the same combination bore fruit once more as Dorchester took the lead.

The county town pressure continued with Jordan diving to his left to keep out a glancing header from Gary Bowles, following another Devlin delivery.

The intensity relented somewhat before the Magpies were forced into a 25th-minute change – fit-again Jamie Gleeson replacing the injured Neil Martin (hamstring) to make his first home appearance since February 5.

Farnborough, looking more like relegation fodder than promotion hopefuls, finally ventured into the opposing box but an important block from skipper Mark Jermyn kept Stevens’ poke at bay.

Dorchester upped the tempo once again and doubled their advantage from another set-piece. Walker was the man on hand on this occasion to steer Devlin’s corner beyond a helpless Jordan.

The Magpies then lost goalscorer Critchell to a knee problem but almost added a third two minutes before the interval.

A neatly worked free-kick, 25 yards from goal, had Devlin playing in Gleeson but an alert Jay Davies snuffed out the danger.

The home substitute went even closer on the stroke of half-time as his header, from Walker’s knock-down, was cleared on the line by Osei Sankofa.

Dorchester players appealed for handball but the referee was unconvinced and awarded only a seventh corner for the hosts.

Devlin’s crosses were proving a major headache for the visitors and from the resultant delivery, Walker had the ball in the net once more, only for the man in black to halt the celebrations after spotting an infringement.

Ryan Moss headed into the arms of Jordan early in the second period before Farnborough registered their first shot of the contest – 51 minutes in.

However, midfielder King could only blaze over on the volley.

The play-off certainties were coming to life, albeit gradually, and a deflected free-kick from half-time replacement Daryl McMahon flew narrowly wide of Regan Coward’s goal.

The ante was finally raised just past the hour with the visitors going close on three occasions – all within the same attack.

Davies’ shot was expertly blocked by Jamie Symes, McMahon’s follow-up was superbly beaten away by Coward, before Walker cleared Dale Binns’ subsequent header off the line.

The pressure was building and a run of four successive corners culminated in Boro halving the deficit with 10 minutes to go.

McMahon’s centre was kept in play at the far post and King lashed home the loose ball.

The Magpies created very little in the second period until Bowles somehow managed to clear the bar from just a yard out.

Their devastating first-half performance proved sufficient but there was time for one final cheer from the Avenue faithful – Farnborough boss Steve King being sent to the stands following a few choice words in the referee’s direction.

	MATCH STATS
11	TOTAL ATTEMPTS	5
6	ATTEMPTS ON TARGET	3
5	ATTEMPTS OFF TARGET	2
0	HIT WOODWORK	0
8	CORNERS	10
6	OFFSIDES	6
11	FREE-KICKS CONCEDED	7