DORCHESTER Town assistant James Wood hailed a “well-deserved” three points as the Magpies saw off Salisbury 1-0 at the Avenue Stadium.

Dorchester were unlucky not to be 1-0 up by the time Charlie Gunson scored what proved to be a 75th-minute winner.

Salisbury, by contrast, created very little for a team of their attacking riches, ex-Magpies striker Brandon Goodship coming closest with a dipping free-kick.

However, the day was Dorchester’s as the Magpies flew into seventh in the table courtesy of their sixth home win in all competitions this season.

Speaking to Echosport, Wood said: “I’m really pleased, it caps a really productive week for us.

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“The points we’ve accumulated, Gosport and Merthyr away and Salisbury at home, to come out unscathed with the points total we have, I was really pleased.

“There was probably a bit of pressure on the boys, because there is a slight expectation at home.

“Playing against a quality Salisbury side you look at them on paper and players with (National League) and southern (National League) experience.

“They’re a very good side but I thought we were excellent and it was three points well deserved.”

Dorchester were straight at Salisbury’s throats from the first whistle.

Wood added: “We know we’ve got energy in this side but sometimes we’re a little naïve. You’re going to get that with young players.

“What they will do is give you energy. What these boys have also got is quality as well.

“I’m just looking at the first half in particular and the chances we’ve created, the way we’ve moved the ball, crosses coming across the box, it was a really good performance.

“Obviously they’re going to put us under a little bit of pressure late on, which is natural especially when it’s 1-0, but I think it’s a deserved three points.”

And Wood was unequivocal when asked what facet of Dorchester’s game had impressed him most.

“Character, really good character,” he said. “They’re starting to stand up and be counted.

“It’s early days, though. There’s no way we’ll get carried away. We know what animal this league is, it’s a very difficult league.

“As soon as you think you’ve cracked it, it’s got a horrible habit of coming back and biting you. We’ve got to keep them all focused.

“I can’t fault them this week. The whole squad, the staff, everyone, the preparation and effort the players have put in has been immense – and they’ve got their just desserts.”

Picking up on the winning goal, Wood added: “That was really pleasing. A lot of hard work goes in to Tuesday, Thursday night when we train.

“A lot of patterns of play that we work on, so it shows the boys are paying attention and are trying to implement what Glenn (Howes, boss) is putting in place.

“Some of our passing, overloading them in wide areas, getting crosses into the box, it was really pleasing to watch.”

Dorchester did come under attack from Salisbury in the closing stages and appeared fortunate not to concede a late penalty for handball against Kieran Douglas.

Wood said: “If you break it down to chances they created, there were very few.

“In the last ten minutes they’re going to throw bodies forward, every free-kick, every set-piece is going into the box.

“We’ve cleared our lines really well, it looks like the ball’s bounced up and it’s come off Kieran’s knee and on to his hand. We’ve seen them given, many a time.

“You could say we’ve rode our luck there, but I’d draw people’s attention to the one that Kieran’s up the other end and he gets wrestled to the ground by their centre-half.

“To me, that’s a definite stone-wall penalty as well.

"If they want to cling to the fact that they should’ve had a penalty? “Fair enough, I’d say we should’ve had one as well.”

Dorchester host Bridport in the Dorset Senior Cup first round tomorrow (7.45pm).