PLAYER-MANAGER Roy O’Brien was left cursing his side’s failings in front of goal, believing the Magpies deserved more from a 1-0 defeat at home to title-chasing Hampton & Richmond.

Dorchester have now gone 412 minutes without scoring, managing just two goals in their last nine Blue Square South games.

And with just five points separating them from the relegation zone, the Magpies need to find their scoring touch soon.

O’Brien, whose men lost out to a second-half strike from Lawrence Yaku on Saturday, said: “They had one attempt and scored from it. We dominated the first half, had some good attempts and were pretty unlucky really.

“I’m gutted for the lads and the supporters but you’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net. It was a very good performance though.

“Phil Walsh hit the bar with a header and it’s things like that which are not going for us, it would have been nice to have seen it drop in.

“We’ve just got to be positive. Our fate’s in our own hands and if we play like we have been doing, and obviously start putting the ball in the net, then we can beat any of the teams in the run-in.

“I don’t think the lads can be disheartened, they just need to keep going and look at the positives.

“The performance was very, very good, we just need to kick on now. We’ve got two games in the space of three days next weekend and they are massive games for us.”

Next up for the county town side though, is tomorrow night’s Dorset Senior Cup final with Wessex League outfit Poole Town at the Wessex Stadium (7.45pm).

But the Magpies' bid to break their scoring duck will not be helped by the unavailability of strikers Phil Walsh and Jacob Erskine, and the fitness doubts over makeshift forwards Kevin Hill and Mitchell Nicholson.

O'Brien, who will also be without assistant boss Ashley Vickers, added: "I believe Hilly has a sore Achilles and Mitch didn't play on Saturday because of a painful ankle.

"Walshy, Jacob and Ash can't play because they signed too late in the season I think. So we haven't got any strikers, which will be interesting."

Of the final itself, the Dorchester chief said: "It's a big game because it's a final. We're playing against a side that is used to winning so it's going to be a tough game.

"Regardless of what cup it is it's a final and we want to win."