Dorchester Town 1-2 Beaconsfield Town: Rams score 92nd-minute winner

Sa 18

BEACONSFIELD TOWN 2

Minhas 13, McCoy 90+2

DOMINANT Dorchester Town were somehow beaten by smash-and-grab Beaconsfield Town as a stoppage-time Oliver McCoy winner stunned the Magpies 2-1 at the Avenue Stadium.

Dorchester began the new Pitching In Southern League Premier South season well but Aaron Minhas squirmed a shot past the outstretched glove of Gerard Benfield for 1-0.

Tiago Sa levelled with a fine finish five minutes later but, after a barrage of home chances, Beaconsfield won it in the 92nd minute when McCoy ran clean through to score.

It was a devastating finish for Dorchester, whose performance had merited all three points.

With Dorchester claiming just seven wins from their past 17 matches on the opening day, a fast start was needed.

And the Magpies duly delivered as two Oakley Hanger crosses caused confusion in the Beaconsfield defence.

Harry Burns then saw a good opening go to waste when he shuffled the ball back onto his right foot, neglecting to shoot with his left.

At the other end, debutant goalkeeper Gerard Benfield earned his first touch when Minhas buried a cross from an acute angle into his midriff.

Dorchester registered the first shot on target when Hanger’s deflected header found the gloves of Tokarczyk, and shortly after Beaconsfield’s McCoy blazed a free-kick over.

But the Rams were ahead slightly against the tide of play in the 13th minute – in controversial circumstances.

Dorchester were incensed when a foul was not given and ex-Weymouth striker Jefferson Louis cushioned a pass for Minhas to fire through the grasp of Benfield.

However, the Magpies were behind for less than five minutes courtesy of a fabulous finish from Sa.

Harry Hodges’ cross was half cleared to Hanger, whose first-time delivery had Sa stretching to hammer home a low volley from the acutest of angles.

Tiago Sa, left, scores from the tightest of angles Picture: DAVID PARTRIDGE

The goal was no less than Dorchester had deserved and Sam Bayston went close to a second, only for Billy Lowes’ cross to flash across goal.

Dorchester celebrate after equalising against Beaconsfield Picture: DAVID PARTRIDGE

Hanger was at the heart of another Dorchester attack when he spotted the run of Tom Purrington, the midfielder controlling and firing at Tokarczyk from inside the area.

As Dorchester continued to play the more incisive football, Sam Davidson headed over at the back post with 30 minutes gone.

Beaconsfield were at times panicky in defence and one example came when Marcus Johnson-Schuster attempted to nod back to Tokarczyk at point-blank range.

Tokarczyk stuck out a glove but with Burns in close attendance, Johnson-Schuster sliced behind.

Baboucarr Jarra then shanked the corner behind from the goalmouth but Dorchester could not make anything of the second set-piece.

Benfield’s distribution led to the Magpies’ next chance when his long ball provoked a weak header back, allowing Bayston to blast a deflected strike behind.

Dorchester gave themselves a scare before half-time when Davidson was booked for blocking Minhas on the counter, but Scott Donnelly could only float the free-kick over.

Robbie Herrera’s men began the second half in the ascendancy when a Sa corner was volleyed over by Charlie Madden from an awkward height, 12 yards out.

A rare opening for the Rams came on the hour when McCoy aimed a wide, albeit sweetly-struck, drive five yards off target.

Dorchester were beginning to pull the strings in midfield again through Lowes and Charlie Madden, the latter threading a good pass to set Sa into space on the left.

His cross was cleared only as far as Madden who controlled an arrowed a stinging volley just wide.

Hodges successfully put off McCoy as he ran through on the counter and cries for a Dorchester penalty were waved away moments later at the opposite end.

Yet it was the constant menace of Hanger on the right who provided the next shot at goal, Tokarczyk doing well to beat clear his powerful rising drive, Purrington aiming over from the rebound.

Oakley Hanger was a constant menace for Dorchester Picture: DAVID PARTRIDGE

With 10 minutes to go, Dorchester were denied in a goalmouth scramble with Bayston and Purrington before referee Clinton blew for a foul on Tokarczyk.

As time wound down, Dorchester dealt with three Beaconsfield corners in two minutes as the Rams pressed, unsuccessfully, for a late winner.

Herrera made his first change in the 84th minute as George Calverley replaced Hanger and the youngster was involved in a big chance seconds later.

Calverley’s intelligent run created space for Sa to drift forward and drill against the far post, with a shaky clearance leading to Tokarczyk unconvincingly punching clear.

Dorchester continued to smell a winner with two late corners but Purrington headed the second over after a fabulous delivery from Calverley.

But the Magpies were punished for not taking their multitude of chances when a simple lobbed through ball set McCoy through to slot past Benfield and steal the points.

Magpies: Benfield, Hodges, Sa, Madden, Davidson, Wells, Hanger (Calverley 84), Purrington, Bayston, Burns, Lowes. Subs not used: Hughes, Walker-Harris, Symes.

Beaconsfield: Tokarczyk, Johnson-Schuster, Lafleur, Aghatise, Jarra, Donnelly, Webb (Callender 46), Ajanlekoko (Maloney 54), Louis (Kearney 73), Minhas, McCoy. Subs not used: Little, Bayley.

Referee: Niall Clinton

Attendance: 358