Ryan Moss takes a shot
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Dan Thomas
2	Kyle Critchell
3	Neil Martin
4	Mark Jermyn
5	Nathan Walker
6	Doug Bergqvist		52
7	Gary Bowles
8	Reece Connolly
9	Ryan Moss
10	James Coutts		72
11	Steve Devlin
Substitutes
12	Chris Flood		72 90
14	Jamie Frampton
15	Jamie Symes		52
16	Jake Smeeton		90
17	Regan Coward
LEWES
1	Chris Winterton
2	Michael Nelson
3	Lewis Hamilton
4	Jermaine Wright
5	Chris Breach
6	Joe Dolan
7	David Wheeler
8	Pat O'Connor
9	Andy Hutchinson		64
10	Gary Noel
11	Rory Hill		87
Substitutes
12	Charlie Holness		87
14	Anthony Barness
15	Ben Hunt		64
16	Ismael Welsh
17	Danny Buckle
REFEREE
Adam Hopkins (Plymouth)

Saturday 9th April 2011
		Dorchester Town	0
		Lewes	0

Another step nearer to safety for Magpies

by Ky Capel

Dorchester Town edged a step closer to safety after this goalless draw with fellow strugglers Lewes.

Both sides were guilty of wasteful finishing in a rather uninspiring contest at the Avenue Stadium, while Gary Bowles came closest for the hosts when he struck the woodwork.

But the outcome is far more beneficial to the Magpies who, despite failing to provide the ideal birthday present to chairman Shaun Hearn, remain seven points clear of the third-bottom Rooks.

And with only four games left to play, time is running out for the Sussex side.

The county town outfit named an unchanged line-up from the one that suffered a harsh defeat at high-flying Woking.

However, winger Nick Crittenden was absent from the squad altogether due to a recurrence of his recent groin problem.

With the sun shining, and three vital points at stake in the fight for survival, both sides looked to make a bright opening.

Full-back Neil Martin did well to snuff out an early threat from the visitors, after Andy Hutchinson had turned Doug Bergqvist on the edge of the Magpies’ box, while at the other end Ryan Moss nodded wide from a Steve Devlin corner.

The latter then stung the palms of Rooks’ keeper Chris Winterton before the best chance of the opening 20 minutes fell Lewes’ way.

A long punt forward caught Nathan Walker flat-footed and Hutchinson enjoyed a clear path to Dan Thomas’ goal.

However, much to his manager’s dismay, the visiting forward could only poke wide.

Walker headed over as Dorchester looked to capitalise on Hutchinson’s miss, and they very nearly did just past the half-hour mark.

After his initial corner was cleared, Devlin delivered for a second time and Bowles connected only to see his header come back off the near post.

The rebound fell to the same man but this time the 22-year-old was denied by a superb save from Winterton.

The Magpies were arguably presented with an even better opportunity three minutes before the break.

Reece Connolly picked the pocket of Chris Breach before teeing up James Coutts. Unfortunately for the home faithful, the latter’s effort was too close to Winterton.

Just as the hosts were looking the more threatening, Lewes broke and spurned two glorious chances to take a half-time lead.

Gary Noel escaped Bergqvist but was thwarted by a decent stop from Thomas, however, the danger remained as the loose ball dropped towards the head of the onrushing Hutchinson.

Once again the Rooks’ striker misfired though, clearing the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Jamie Symes was brought into the action early in the second period, replacing Bergqvist shortly after the teenage defender was booked for a foul on Hutchinson, and only a smart block from Pat O’Connor prevented the substitute troubling Winterton with his first contribution.

Coutts then blazed over from just inside the Lewes box before Thomas came to the Magpies’ rescue with a point-blank save from Noel.

Chris Flood entered the fray with 18 minutes to go and he immediately released Moss.

The angle was tight and the hitman’s strike lacked sufficient power to seriously trouble Winterton.

There was plenty of venom behind Symes’ effort just seconds later but a slight deflection off a visiting defender saw the ball fly narrowly wide of the right-hand post.

David Wheeler then missed the target with a left-foot drive before Moss came within inches of finding the bottom corner, after robbing a hesitant Mitchell Nelson.

The Lewes right-back almost made amends two minutes later but his header, from Rory Hill’s corner, dropped agonisingly wide.

There was to be one final chance and it fell to Flood, but after latching on to Devlin’s through ball, the county town replacement’s touch let him down, allowing Winterton to get there first and injure Flood in the process.

A minute’s silence was held prior to kick-off for fan Ian Dabbs – a close friend of striker Ryan Moss and who passed away last month.

	MATCH STATS
14	TOTAL ATTEMPTS	11
6	ATTEMPTS ON TARGET	4
7	ATTEMPTS OFF TARGET	7
1	HIT WOODWORK	1
11	CORNERS	2
5	OFFSIDES	3
6	FREE-KICKS CONCEDED	6