DORCHESTER Town manager Glenn Howes refused to blame an injury to keeper Brad Snelling on the Magpies’ 4-0 defeat at Truro City.

Howes’ men came into the game looking to post successive opening wins for the first time since the 2006/07 Conference South season.

Dorchester were given a mountain to climb in order to realise that ambition as Snelling took a knock to the head in attempting to keep out Rocky Neal’s 12th-minute opener.

Dorchester named no sub keeper on the bench, with Tiago Sa coming on for Snelling 15 minutes later and centre-half Kieran Douglas donning the gloves.

READ MORE: Truro City 4-0 Dorchester Town - match report

Douglas made a number of stops as Truro tested him at every opportunity, but the Magpies gave away a penalty early in the second half as Harvey Bertrand was penalised for a foul – harshly in Dorchester’s eyes.

Tyler Harvey stepped up to score and then added a third before Neal completed his brace.

Dorchester had chances themselves through Alfie Stanley but the Magpies were forced to look back on a difficult away day after the defeat.

Howes told Echosport: “We looked at the goals we conceded and the second half, there’s no good time to concede.

“When you concede and go two down, it’s a mammoth task to come back from that. We do have to put it on record that it’s an extremely dubious penalty to give.

“We would 100 per cent back Harvey that we didn’t think it was a foul.

“However, when they take that opportunity, you’re in a real uphill struggle to get yourselves back in the game.

“We perhaps made ourselves a little more vulnerable because we’re chasing the game. Truro are going to hurt you.

“We felt their front three – (Dan) Sullivan, Harvey and Neal – are probably the best in the league.

“That was a big say in the game for us. We’ve got Callum Buckley, Jordi (Foot) and Louie Slough and they’re more than competent and capable enough.

“We certainly don’t point the finger at Kieran for not being able to put his body on the line. He did really well, as Brad would’ve. I don’t think that was an issue.”

Howes reserved praise for Douglas, adding: “He’s a big commanding presence and took some big crosses, used his frame and stature between the sticks.

“His distribution was thinking like an outfield player, he set us on attacks and we could’ve perhaps made more of the counter-attacks.

“He dealt with it well and we couldn’t have asked any more from Kieran.

“From a safety point of view we hauled Brad off, just to make sure the lad’s OK. We made the right decision and I don’t regret that.

“The only chance we look at is potentially having a second-choice keeper on the bench but I don’t think that would’ve made any (difference) to the scoreline at all.”

Giving an update on Snelling’s condition, Howes said: “He went in on a 50-50 ball with Rocky Neal.

“They collided and he felt a little bit unwell. We took him off as a precautionary measure as any team would’ve done.”

Dorchester host promoted side Plymouth Parkway tomorrow evening (7.45pm).