The Magpies endured a disappointing afternoon on Saturday at the Webbswood Stadium as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Swindon Supermarine. A Harry Williams goal two minutes after halftime was the difference and the loss sees Tommy Killick's side fall to sixth, just outside the playoff places.
Following the previous weekend's narrow loss to AFC Totton in the FA Trophy, The Magpies made three changes to the starting lineup as Wes Fogden, Matt Buse and Marcus Daws all came into the XI, with Ollie Haste and Wayne Robinson dropping to the bench. Shaquille Gwengwe was the third man to miss out as he started his four game suspension following his red card against Totton, and Will Spetch was also suspended. Tommy Killick was also absent so Glenn Howes assumed control in the dugout as his side looked to start quickly.
Neither side could find the start they wanted and despite having the lion's share of possession, Dorchester were unable to fashion any real clearcut chances, and despite a succession of first half corners, Supermarine were unable to go any better than a shot into the side netting. Corby Moore, captain Jordan Ngalo, and Marcus Daws all saw efforts miss the target, and it was only in the dying moments of the first half that the first save of note was made. Some neat passing saw Olaf Koszela get a shot away from just inside the penalty area, and with the aid of a deflection it looked like it would find the bottom corner. Home keeper, Daniel Brabham, had to be at his best as at full stretch he was able to tip the ball around the post. The corner that followed was dealt with by the home defence and an uneventful half ended shortly after with the score remaining 0-0.
The deciding moment of the game came just two minutes into the second half as the home side took the lead through Williams' seventh strike of the season. A long ball down the Swindon right released Michael Fernandes, and his cross from the byline was turned in by Williams to break the deadlock. The goal seemed to spark the yellow clad visitors, and they came agonisingly close to an equaliser just minutes later. Having won a freekick on the edge of the Swindon box, Koszela's low freekick seemed destined for the bottom corner, home custodian Brabham again had to be at his very best as his fingertips diverted the goal bound strike onto the face of the post, with the ball cannoning to safety.
The game then settled into a holding pattern as Dorch enjoyed long spells of possession with Swindon content to sit deep and defend. A Daws strike from distance caused Brabham no issues, and Glenn Howes attempted to change things up as Robinson replaced Buse, and Haste replaced Daws either side of the hour mark. But for all the time spent on the ball, there was to be no real quality opening created for the elusive equaliser - Robinson's effort that was again comfortably collected by Brabham was the only shot of any note as the game approached the final ten minutes. Kyran Samadi and Luke Roberts replaced Fogden and Pardoe as the dice were rolled for one final time, but there was to be no reprieve as referee Charlie Bullock brought the curtain down on proceedings after five minutes of injury time, Swindon taking the three points as Dorch fell to a third defeat in four games across all competitions.
The Magpies will look to get back to winning ways as they travel to eighth placed Bracknell on Saturday.
Starting XI: Benfield; Dickson, Bragg, Turner, Pardoe (Roberts); Moore, Ngalo [c]; Buse (Robinson), Fogden (Samadi), Daws (Haste); Koszela. Sub not used: Holmes.
Attendance: 281