WINCHESTER CITY 1

L King 36 pen

DORCHESTER TOWN 1

Gunson 28

DORCHESTER Town made it seven games unbeaten in all competitions with a 1-1 draw at promoted side Winchester City in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South.

Charlie Gunson put the Magpies into a 28th-minute lead but Luke King’s penalty levelled matters before the break.

Chances for a second were spurned by both teams as the points were shared in treacherous, heavy conditions.

Looking to extend the Magpies’ streak without a loss, Dorchester boss Glenn Howes made two changes to the side that began the 0-0 draw with Hendon last time out.

READ MORE: Winchester City 1-1 Dorchester Town - how it happened

Goalkeeper Lloyd Thomas had no place in the squad, while Louie Slough dropped to the bench, replaced by Tiago Sa at left-back.

Thomas returned to Poole Town after his short-term arrangement, with new signing Ryan Hall coming in for his second loan spell with the Magpies this season.

Olly Balmer was fit enough after a knee injury to take his place on the bench against the side he left in the summer.

However, Shaq Gwengwe (ankle) was not risked despite having returned to full training this week.

With Balmer returning to the matchday 16, Dorchester omitted midfielder Mike Lilley from the squad in their only other change.

Sounding each other out in the opening exchanges, neither side could register a meaningful shot on target until Gunson’s third goal of the season.

The midfielder owed much to the hold-up play of Harvey Bradbury – a different type of weapon that Dorchester have added to their front line this season.

Bradbury rebuffed the Winch defence and set up Gunson who slotted home via the outstretched glove of keeper Jordi Valero for 1-0.

Gunson nearly had his second on 33 minutes when his direct corner almost snuck in, drifting out for a goal-kick.

Seconds later Winchester had a soft penalty for a foul against Jordan Ngalo from which they equalised as Luke King’s strike proved too hot for Hall to handle.

That was as good as it got before half-time, where Dorchester switched Jordi Foot for Harvey-Joe Bertrand due to a foot injury.

After the restart, Winchester then carved out the first chance of the half when Ik Hill skewed a shot over.

Hill then turned provider for Jamie Barron, who could only fire wide from 18 yards as Winchester pushed on.

Dorchester were then denied two penalties of their own, for similar incidents to Ngalo’s, as Bradbury and Gunson appeared to be wrestled to the ground.

Winchester’s physicality did agitate the Magpies at times but the visitors channelled their frustrations into a late charge for a winner.

Olaf Koszela, as he so often has been this summer, was at the heart of the Dorchester attack as the Torquay loanee smashed a shot at Valero, the keeper sharply reacting to turn his effort out for a corner.

Valero made three further minor saves as Dorchester kicked on, before City sub Griggs almost stole the headlines with a late shot that fizzed wide of Hall’s goal.

Fellow sub Silvano Obeng crashed a 90th-minute chance wide and Griggs saw a deflected effort spin wide as the sides were forced to settle for a point.

Dorchester move up a place to sixth ahead of a home meeting with third-placed Chesham United next Saturday (12.30pm).

Winchester: Valero, Baughan, D King, L King, Chugg, Jamieson, Hill (Herbert 87), Barron (Griggs 77), Mlambo, Smith, Brooks (Obeng 77). Subs not used: Torniainen, Willcox.

Magpies: Hall, Foot (Bertrand 46), Sa, Moyse, Buckley, Douglas, Gunson, Ngalo, Bradbury, Koszela, Neale (Stanley 90+2). Subs not used: Balmer, Slough, Emmerson.

Referee: Conall Bartlett

Attendance: 363