DORCHESTER TOWN 2

Hughes 85, Waterfield 90+4

HUNGERFORD TOWN 4

McDonagh 36, De St Croix 43, Shepherd 68, Lopes 90

BELOW-PAR Dorchester Town were sent to a flattering 4-2 defeat by play-off contenders Hungerford Town in a poor display at the Avenue Stadium.

Dorchester did create, but failed to take, numerous chances in the first half and were punished for profligacy when Conor McDonagh and Sam De St Croix put Hungerford 2-0 up at the break.

Joe Shepherd’s excellent third put the result beyond doubt but a sumptuous debut free-kick for Harvey Hughes gave the Magpies a consolation.

Crusaders' sub Fabio Lopes strolled in unmarked for 4-1 before a Lewis Waterfield thunderbolt gave the Magpies an academic second.

READ MORE: Dorchester Town 2-4 Hungerford Town - how it happened

Most worrying for Dorchester fans will be the ease with which the Magpies effectively rolled over in the second half, only showing fight once Hungerford led 3-0.

Had they taken their chances, it might have been a different story, but the squad was not without fresh impetus with five changes made to the starting XI that began the 2-1 loss to Poole on Boxing Day.

Luton Town loanee goalkeeper Jameson Horlick and Weymouth midfielder Tyrique Clarke both started, with Ieuan Turner, Will Fletcher and Leighton Thomas recalled.

Ed James and Jordan Ngalo (hamstring) were missing entirely, while Jake Viney has left the club. Waterfield and Jonny Efedje were benched.

While Dorchester’s afternoon ended in misery, it began positively as Fletcher intelligently won a corner that pressured Hungerford keeper Ryan Clarke into a punch.

Hungerford registered the first shot on target as Adulai Sambu’s first-time effort fizzed straight at Horlick before Bradley Cooper sliced a volley inches wide.

Dorchester wondered how they avoided going 1-0 up in the 18th minute as Olaf Koszela, easily their best player on the day, drove at the Hungerford defence before zipping a deflected low cross just out of reach of Thomas with the goal gaping.

Koszela blasted over from 20 yards and later clipped a cross in for Thomas to spin a header wide as Dorchester continued to create openings.

Ryan Clarke then produced his first real save of the game as Koszela rifled at him, rendering Fletcher a frustrated figure on the left with space to burn.

However, the momentum of the game swung on a mistake from Tyrique Clarke whose heavy touch in defending a cross fell perfectly for McDonagh to pounce with a clinical first-time finish.

Hungerford then doubled their lead before half-time, Sambu controlling an incisive through ball and laying off for De St Croix to tap into an empty net with Horlick committed.

Handed a brilliant chance to halve the deficit before half-time, Koszela rued another heavy touch as he raced clean through after a neat touch from Shaq Gwengwe.

Dorchester needed Horlick to deny McDonagh early in the second half, before Clarke was replaced by Hughes and Waterfield came on for Thomas.

However, the changes had little effect as a slick Hungerford passing move on the edge of the box was fittingly finished with ruthlessness by Shepherd into the top-right corner.

Dorchester were now in danger of a big defeat with 22 minutes to go and Horlick spared further blushes by repelling a clean through McDonagh.

Ex-Blackpool left-back Hughes did provide a rare moment of quality for the Magpies, his exquisite free-kick curling beyond Clarke on 85 minutes for 3-1.

Hungerford, though, were too good and nearly scored from the restart before adding a fourth on 90 minutes as sub Joseph Ladapo skirted past Turner and crossed on a plate for the criminally unmarked Lopes to head home.

With Dorchester offering Horlick little protection all game, the scoreline ended with a rosier feel than should have been the case, Waterfield’s injury-time scorcher crashing in off the bar.

There was no glossing over the performance, though, as Dorchester were sent to a fourth-straight Pitching In Southern League Premier South defeat, remaining in 20th of the 22 clubs.

Magpies: Horlick, Dickson (Efedje 73), Haste, T Clarke (Hughes 53), Spetch, Turner, Thomas (Waterfield 61), Moore, Fletcher, Gwengwe, Koszela. Subs not used: Eccott-Young, Toms.

Hungerford: R Clarke, Medford-Smith, Jarra, De St Croix (Ladapo 70), Hooper, McDonagh, Watts, Wright, Sambu (Lopes 70), Shepherd (Alexander 84), Tyler. Subs not used: Evans, Stanley.

Referee: Marc Whalley.

Attendance: 407.