ASHLEY Vickers admitted to feeling “dumbfounded” as to how his Dorchester side failed to come away with at least a point following their opening-day defeat at Bromley.

Ryan Hill fired the Magpies into an early lead with a trademark free-kick but the home side drew level through Paul Vines before Warren McBean put them in front for the first time in the 72nd minute.

Both sides missed a penalty apiece with Nic McDonnell and then Hill the guilty parties while Bromley were reduced to 10 men when Jerrome Sobers received his second booking in conceding the visitors’ spot-kick.

Manager Vickers felt his charges dominated proceedings and were unfortunate to return home empty-handed.

Instead he was left to reflect on the county town outfit’s first opening-day loss since the 2005/06 campaign.

He said: “We gave them a good game and I’m dumbfounded as it was one of the most one-sided games I’ve seen. We will play worse than that in future and win.

“It wasn’t a good result but I can’t stress how unfortunate we were. I think Regan Coward had one save to make in the entire game.

“I’m not downbeat at all, not in the slightest. The result is a kick in the teeth in terms of the nature of it but the lads did themselves proud.

“They did all that we asked of them and on another day we will get our rewards.”

The Magpies, who lie 16th in Blue Square Bet South after the opening round of fixtures, will hope to get off the mark when they entertain Eastleigh tomorrow night (7.45pm).