GARY Bowles was taken to hospital last night after sustaining a suspected broken ankle in Dorchester Town’s 4-2 win at Sholing.

The defender, who scored the Magpies’ third goal, went over on his ankle in the second half while trying to clear the ball and was later sent to Southampton General Hospital for an X-ray.

Following last night’s friendly win, Magpies’ chief Ashley Vickers told Echosport: “It was rather innocuous really. He tried to chip the ball up the channel but his standing leg went underneath him.

“The pitch was very bobbly and had no give, so that might have had something to do with it. It’s a big shame as Gary was playing very well.

“We always rave about him as he will be a very good player for us. Let’s hope it’s not too severe a break or crack and let’s pray he is back before we know it.”

Reflecting on the victory against their Zamaretto Division One South & West hosts, Vickers added: “We played well and did all the right things. We made a lot of changes during the game but the lads who came on did well.

“We kept our shape, we played with a good tempo and there was a real solidity to the team.

“The lads are tracking their men, rather than ball watching, and working well as a machine, which will hopefully be the case in every game we play. Standards though have to be maintained to get to where we want to be.

“I was also glad that we didn’t get involved in any shenanigans, we rose above the nonsense that was going on and were very professional.”

Midfielder James Coutts opened the scoring in Hampshire only to see a deflected free-kick bring Sholing level.

Headed goals from Ryan Moss and the ill-fated Bowles made it 3-1 at the break before a trademark set-piece from Ryan Hill extended the visitors’ lead.

The home side cut the deficit once again but the Blue Square Bet South Magpies held on.

Vickers was also impressed with the efforts of his trialists – Mike Hookway, Charlie Knight, Casius Newton, Rico Wilson and Tom Richardson.

He said: “All the trialists have done well and they’ve conducted themselves brilliantly – they are a credit to themselves.

“They are trying to take the opportunity in front of them and it’s important they do that.”

One man missing from the line-up was striker Stuart Douglas, who Vickers hopes to sign in the coming days.

The Dorchester boss added: “Dougie was unavailable but will be back for Thursday’s game at Poole.”

Magpies: Hookway, R Hill (Knight), Critchell, Jermyn (Montacute), Walker (Frampton), Bowles (K Hill), Coutts (Nodwell), Allen (Newton), Moss (Wilson), Groves (Richardson), Devlin (Martin).