Neil Martin equalises for the Magpies
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Regan Coward
2	Gary Bowles
3	Jake Smeeton		80
4	Mark Jermyn
5	Nathan Walker
6	Ashley Vickers
7	Neil Martin
8	Reece Connolly		61
9	Ryan Moss
10	Chris Flood
11	Steve Devlin
Substitutes
12	Nick Crittenden		61
14	Jamie Symes		80
15	Adam Taylor
16	Jamie Gleeson
ST ALBANS CITY
1	Paul Bastock
2	Ross Dedman
3	Peter Smith		50
4	Rob Magwood
5	James Fisher
6	Adam Everitt
7	Glodi Kweme		79
8	Ollie Kelly
9	Tony Battersby		61
10	Inih Effiong
11	Jonathan O'Donnell
Substitutes
12	Dom Petrucci		61
14	Aidy Chaves		50
15	Sean Shields		79
16	Lee Flavin
17	Malik Abdulai
REFEREE
Lee Swabey (Plymouth)

Tuesday 15th March 2011
		Dorchester Town	1
		Martin 33
		St Albans City	3
		Effiong 8, pen 73, 83

Jake's gift to Saints

by Ky Capel

A moment of madness from Jake Smeeton handed victory on a plate to rock-bottom St Albans City last night.

With the scores level at one apiece, the Dorchester Town defender hacked down Glodi Kweme and conceded a needless penalty with just 17 minutes to play at the Avenue Stadium.

Inih Effiong, who had earlier put the visitors ahead, restored City’s advantage from 12 yards and, with the Magpies desperately seeking a second equaliser, went on to complete his hat-trick to secure a priceless win for the Hertfordshire outfit – who only managed three shots on target all game.

The county town side meanwhile, who saw Neil Martin bag his first of the season, were brought back to Earth with a bump following the weekend win at high-flying Welling United.

The Magpies were unchanged from that impressive victory and carried on in the same vein early on, forcing a corner inside 90 seconds.

Steve Devlin delivered and Saturday’s two-goal hero Nathan Walker was denied by the gloves of Paul Bastock.

The visitors were very much on the back foot during the opening exchanges and it therefore came as a huge surprise to see them take the lead with their first foray.

James Fisher advanced from his defensive duties to slip in Effiong, who calmly found the bottom right corner.

Visibly shaken, the Magpies took their time in recovering from the setback before Smeeton centred for Ryan Moss whose glancing header was gathered at the second attempt by Bastock.

The hosts went even closer in the 24th minute when Reece Connolly connected with a cross from Gary Bowles – booked moments earlier after a clash with opposing full-back Peter Smith – and was unfortunate to see his hooked effort bounce off the top of the crossbar.

Moss then had appeals for a penalty waved away before visiting midfielder Rob Magwood narrowly missed the inside of the left post with a low drive.

The 25-yarder was deemed to have taken a deflection but from the resultant corner, the Magpies broke instantly and went on to level through Martin.

Chris Flood left Smith for dead on the halfway line before twisting and turning his way past Jonathan O’Donnell on the corner of the City box to create space for a shot.

Flood’s attempt took a slight nick off visiting captain Adam Everitt but Martin was on hand to head home at the back stick.

Having restored parity, the Magpies should have gained superiority going into the half-time interval.

First, Connolly could only stab wide from Martin’s left-sided cross before Moss was twice thwarted by the evergreen Bastock following assists from Connolly and then Mark Jermyn.

Dorchester’s number nine was on a personal mission to end his nine-game drought and five minutes into the second half, sent an acrobatic effort wide of goal.

Bastock then spilled a superb delivery from Martin but Jermyn, somewhat off balance, was unable to make sufficient contact.

The hosts, although failing to hit top gear, remained the more threatening side and brought on Nick Crittenden in a bid to grab the all-important second.

The flying winger was presented with an excellent opportunity to make an immediate impact but, on his weaker foot, could only blaze over after fine work down the right from Flood.

For all their chances, the Magpies, and Smeeton in particular, pushed the self-destruct button with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Kweme evaded two men by the corner flag and burst into the penalty area before being scythed down by a reckless challenge from Smeeton.

Referee Lee Swabey was left with no choice but to point to the spot and issue a yellow card to the left-back.

After a short delay, Effiong blasted the spot-kick straight down the middle of Regan Coward’s goal, with the home keeper going to his left.

Smeeton was then sacrificed for new signing Jamie Symes as Dorchester desperately searched for a late leveller.

But their hopes were dashed in the 84th minute when Effiong left player-boss Ashley Vickers – 19 years his senior – trailing in his wake before coolly lifting the ball over the helpless Coward.

Swabey spared any further misery by only dishing out a yellow to Crittenden after the 32-year-old appeared to lash out at O’Donnell.

	MATCH STATS
10	TOTAL ATTEMPTS	5
6	ATTEMPTS ON TARGET	3
3	ATTEMPTS OFF TARGET	2
1	HIT WOODWORK	0
7	CORNERS	2
2	OFFSIDES	2
13	FREE-KICKS CONCEDED	9