Two Matt Buse goals ensured the Magpies claimed a point in a pulsating clash against table topping Merthyr on Saturday, the 2-2 scoreline a fair reflection of an enthralling game.
A season high crowd of 807, including a sizable and noisy contingent from Wales, witnessed the spectacle, with the point seeing Merthyr remain top and Dorch drop a place to fifth but remain in the playoff spots.
Tommy Killick made two changes from Wednesday night's draw with Gosport as Marcus Daws and Ollie Haste dropped to the bench, with Ieuan Turner and Luke Roberts coming into the starting XI. Both sets of fans were in fine voice as the game kicked off, but neither side gave them much to shout about in a cagey opening. The league's top scorer, Ricardo Rees, was the first man to have a shot of note, but it was not one to seriously test Gerard Benfield, and at the other end a Matt Buse effort was held by Martyrs' gloveman, Jamie Cogman. The visitors were certainly showing just why they were top as their slick passing and movement started to click, and after 19 minutes they took the lead.
A very tidy passing move was finished off by Kane Simpson from six yards out, his finish into the roof of the net from a tight angle giving The Martyrs a lead their play had probably deserved. The Magpies looked to respond as Corby Moore sent an effort over the bar, but it could and maybe should have been 2-0 to the visitors as an errant pass from Jordan Ngalo was picked up and played through. However, Lewys Twamley's effort lacked power, with Benfield gratefully gathering at the second attempt. Twamley had an effort from range go wide of the post and Tom Handley saw an effort go over as Merthyr searched for a second, but Dorch were working hard and coming back into the game and they got their equaliser with four minutes of the half remaining.
A deft touch from Roberts was followed by a precise pass from Buse to Luke Pardoe deep on the left side of the penalty area, and Pardoe's cutback from the byline was calmly side footed into the bottom corner at the far post by Buse to level the game at 1-1. There was no further incidents of note in the remaining minutes of the half and there were no changes by either side at the interval, but there would have been many fans who missed Merthyr re-taking the lead as they struck less than two minutes into the second half.
An attack down the Dorch right was foiled high up the pitch, Merthyr moving the ball quickly to Twamley, his defence splitter of a through ball was perfectly weighted for Simpson, and he made no mistake as he slotted past Benfield from the edge of the area. The Martyrs saw a headed chance nodded over at the back post, Buse picked up a yellow card, and Marcus Daws was introduced in place of Ieuan Turner in a busy few minutes that culminated with Jack Dickson drawing a good save from Cogman. Dickson embarked on one of his trademark runs with his fierce shot from the angle forcing Cogman to parry the ball out, and Moore seeing his rising drive rise too much as it went over the bar.
Merthyr had two good chances within seconds of one another as Twamley again caused havoc. Firstly, his attempted centre from the byline on the righthand side was hurriedly hacked clear, but it wasn't properly cleared. Simson controlled the loose ball and his clever pass again found Twamley who could only fire straight at Benfield. Back came Dorch who really should have levelled, Pardoe only able to fire wide with the goal seemingly at his mercy after Daws had done brilliantly to beat his man and cut the ball back.
Despite not equalising, The Bypass End was rocking and urging Dorch on, and the noise went up another notch when Buse scored his third of the week to level the scores again just moments later. Wes Fogden had only been on the pitch for three minutes after replacing Luke Roberts, but when he was set away down the right by a Marcus Daws pass, his center was slotted home by Buse from 12 yards to send the home fans wild with 22 minutes still to play.
Despite the best efforts of both sides, neither could really fashion that one gilt edged chance they needed, Dorch seeing two penalty claims waved away in their only moments of note, with Merthyr forcing Benfield to react quickly to a loose ball at the other end. But the five minutes of injury time couldn't separate the sides, with both managers and sets of fans seeming content with a point from what was an excellent game as well as a superb advert for the league.
Dorch host Sturminster Newton in the Dorset Senior Cup quarter-final tomorrow night, before welcoming 12th placed Taunton to The Avenue on Saturday. Save £2 off tickets for those games by booking online, this can be done via the link below.
https://dorchestertownfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets
Starting XI: Benfield; Bragg, Spetch, Turner (Daws); Dickson, Moore, Buse, Pardoe; Koszela, Ngalo; Roberts (Fogden). Subs not used: Haste, Holmes, Samadi.
Attendance: 807
Written by: Stuart Voss