Tom Mitchell was sent off
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Regan Coward
2	Mark Jermyn
3	Jake Smeeton
4	Tom Mitchell
5	Gary Bowles
6	Kevin Hill
7	Nick Crittenden
8	Jamie Gleeson
9	Ryan Moss		76
10	Phil Walsh
11	Neil Martin
Substitutes
12	Matt Groves
14	Ashley Vickers
15	Ivan Forbes
16	Harry Nodwell		76
17	Roy O'Brien
NEWPORT COUNTY
1	Glyn Thompson
2	Paul Bignot		84
3	Martyn Giles
4	Wayne Turk
5	Gary Warren
6	Paul Cochlin
7	Danny Rose
8	Scott Rogers
9	Craig Reid		76
10	Jason Bradley
11	Sam Foley
Substitutes
12	Kris Leek		84
14	Dave Gilroy		76
15	Aaron Cook
16	Nathan Davies
17	Keiran Blackburn
Referee
-

Tuesday 18th August 2009
		Dorchester Town	0
		Newport County	0

Resolute Magpies earn point

by Ky Capel

Ten-man Dorchester battled their way to a deserved Blue Square South point against Newport County last night after Tom Mitchell saw red for a blatant headbutt just before the hour.

The Magpies stopped the rot of two successive defeats, in which they conceded seven goals, with a credible draw, and a clean sheet, against the unbeaten Exiles.

And boss Roy O’Brien would have been pleased with such a solid defensive display, and in particular the performance of 19-year-old keeper Regan Coward in only his second league appearance.

O’Brien made three changes from the 4-1 defeat to Dover with Ryan Moss returning to the starting line-up at the expense of Ivan Forbes, Coward replacing the injured Ryan Northmore and Jake Smeeton coming in for Ashley Vickers.

The Magpies though, made a sluggish start and should have found themselves behind inside the first minute. But after pouncing on a Gary Bowles error, Newport’s Craig Reid pulled his shot wide of the right-hand post.

Reid sent another effort over the top in the 12th minute before team-mate Danny Rose tried his luck from distance but to no avail.

Dorchester’s best attempt in the opening 20 minutes came from Nick Crittenden, whose 20-yard drive drifted wide.

The hosts began to edge their way into the game more and more and soon saw Mitchell narrowly send a 30-yard free-kick wide of Newport’s goal, before Neil Martin fired over the top from an acute angle with 12 minutes to go until the break.

Despite Dorchester’s resurgence, Jason Bradley had a golden opportunity to open the scoring and put the visitors ahead, but he volleyed over the top with just Coward to beat after Wayne Turk slipped him in.

Following the interval, Crittenden’s dangerous delivery from the left just evaded the onrushing Kevin Hill while at the other end of the pitch Rose’s corner was met by the head of Paul Cochlin, but the Newport defender was denied by a brilliant reaction save from Coward.

The Magpies though, were dealt a huge blow when Mitchell got himself sent off.

The hosts felt aggrieved when Jamie Gleeson was harshly penalised for a foul some 30 yards out. Scott Rogers then nudged Mitchell while trying to retrieve the ball to which the home midfielder replied with a petulant headbutt – and he was rightly dismissed by the referee.

The sending off clearly lifted Newport’s spirits and they almost forged ahead when Rose’s corner found its way to Bradley at the far post, but he nodded wide of goal.

However, despite the numerical advantage, the Welsh outfit were soon finding it difficult to break down a stubborn home side and had to settle for long-range efforts with Martyn Giles and Rose both trying their luck without success.

Somewhat surprisingly, Dorchester still posed a threat on the break with Crittenden proving highly effective. In fact the hosts had a penalty claim turned down right at the death after Crittenden went down in the opposition box.