JUSTIN Keeler, Dorchester's top scorer last season with 26 league goals, broke in a new pair of boots with a match-winning performance against Chelmsford City.

The former AFC Bournemouth left winger scored a sensational first of the season and laid on two more as a solid 4-1 victory took the Magpies up to ninth in the Dr Martens Premier Division.

"I've had loads of chances already this season and I've gone close plenty of times, but they just wouldn't seem to go in," said Keeler. "I put it all down to having a new pair of boots, but now I think I'm just about getting used to them."

Chelmsford's tormented full back Jack Wignall will give testimony to that. In the first half he was run ragged by the pacey Keeler whose crosses could easily have brought another two or three goals. And he was probably relieved to be hauled off five minutes into the second half.

"He got tight to me at the begining but all of a sudden he dropped off me a couple of yards and let me run which was great," said Keeler. "The boss told me to stay out on the wing and make the lads give me the ball so I could go at them and it paid off.

"Andy Harris gave me a great ball for my goal. It dropped over the defender and over my shoulder and when it bounced I just hit it and it dipped in over the keeper's head.

Keeler warned defender Alex Browne, currently leading the way with three after another header from a Keeler free-kick, not to get to used to being top scorer.

"I'm after him now and with the boots broken in I'll be working on my free-kicks," he said. "Matt Tubbs's a tricky customer and gets fouled a lot around the area so I'm sure I'll be getting some chances. Up to now I've tried to whack them all the time but from now on I'll be working on bending it like Beckham in training.

"But it's terrific to have someone like Alex to aim for at free-kicks. He knows

exactly where I'm going to put it and times his run just right."

Keeler said he was sure the Magpies are capable of finishing in the top half of the table and qualifying for the new Conference set up.

"We can do it if we keep passing the ball and keep attacking teams," he said. "We need to win our home games and be strong on our travels ."

Manager Mark Morris said if the ex-Cherry was able to produce that kind of display every week he would not be in the Dr Martens League.

"When he's in that mood and shooting for fun he's a joy to watch," he said. "But people shouldn't expect it every week because he wouldn't be playing at this level if he could keep up that kind of match-winning performance week in and week out."

Despite the margin of victory he didn't think his team had been at their best.

"Our passing was only about 80 per cent and we can be quicker and sharper," he added. "But having said that I thought three players were outstanding. Apart from Justin I thought Mark Rawlinson made a massive contribution with his workrate and tackling and the way Matt Tubbs took a battering but kept picking himself up and getting on with the job was superb."