AN UNFAMILIAR Dorchester side suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Wimborne Town in their opening pre-season friendly.

The county town Magpies fielded a host of trialists with Regan Coward, Steve Devlin, Jake Smeeton, Warren Byerley, Harry Montacute and Jamie Frampton – pulling on a Dorchester shirt for the first time – the only household names on the teamsheet.

Those hoping to win a contract with the Avenue Stadium club were keeper Mike Hookway, wide men Charlie Knight, Owain Warlow and Antony Carlile, midfielder Casius Newton, strikers Rico Wilson and Tom Richardson and under-18 graduates Adam Taylor and Dan Spencer.

The visitors produced a rather disjointed display as a result while the lower-league hosts registered in each half to claim victory.

Boss Ashley Vickers was unperturbed by the outcome, especially as there were so many new faces on show.

He said: “We had 90 per cent of the first-team squad training hard on Saturday morning, doing their fitness work, so the game was an opportunity to look at the trialists.

“I was pleased with their effort and their attitude, and there are one or two things that we can pursue.

“Obviously I would like to win our friendlies but that was a team of trialists with only a few recognised players.

“I was pleased with all of them though and the lads who came in know what’s required. It was a good workout and we’ll learn from it.

“We dominated a lot of the second half but got done on the breakaway. Both of their goals stemmed from our goal-kicks, so the boys have got to keep the ball in the park. It frustrated me last season and it will not happen next season.”

The visiting Magpies fell behind at Cuthbury inside 25 minutes when a Liam Green free-kick was met by an unmarked Ross Lloyd and headed past a helpless Coward.

Devlin was denied an equaliser soon after when his looping header came back off a post. And the same man wasted an even better chance moments later.

Warlow was brought down in the box by home gloveman Alan Walker-Harris but Devlin blazed the spot-kick high over the bar.

Richardson, Wilson, Newton and Frampton all went close in the second period but it was Wimborne who completed the scoring when Perry Mullins beat the advancing Hookway with three minutes to go.

Magpies: Coward (Hookway 46), Spencer, Smeeton (Newton 46), Montacute, Frampton, Taylor, Carlile (Richardson 46), Devlin, Warlow, Byerley (Wilson 46), Knight. Subs not used: Filkins, Lillington.

VICKERS' VERDICT

Mike Hookway (former Romsey keeper)

“Mike was communicating well and will be a good player for us. There is no number one at the club at the moment, it’s a position that is very much up for grabs.”

Charlie Knight (ex-Bashley wide player)

“Charlie is good on the ball and very quick. He defended well and was good going forward.”

Owain Warlow (former Lincoln City and Llanelli winger)

“Owain looked short of match fitness. He’s had some injury problems in the past and needs to work on his fitness. He is someone we may or may not pursue – we’ll see how it goes.”

Adam Taylor and Dan Spencer (products of the under-18 system)

“I thought both of them did well.”

Antony Carlile (winger/full-back who won the Dorset Senior League with Easton United last term)

“Antony is an honest lad who’s looking to make the step up. He worked hard and got in some useful crosses.”

Tom Richardson (ex-Weymouth forward)

“Tom wants to play as high as he can. He did well and we’ll see what comes out of it.”

Rico Wilson (former Bournemouth Poppies and Yeovil Town striker)

“I thought Rico was good, he’s a handful, he’s big, he’s strong and he’s quick. He also caused them problems.”

Casius Newton (ex-Milton Keynes Dons Youth midfielder)

“Casius was tidy on the ball and he did the job that we gave him to the best of his ability.”