Dorchester TOWN 0

EASTLEIGH 4

Slabber 18, 32, 52, Holland 64 A

JAMIE Slabber hat-trick condemned a below-par Dorchester to back-to-back defeats, and bottom spot, in Blue Square Bet South.

The Magpies came into the game hoping to reverse their opening-day setback at Bromley. Instead they suffered an even heavier loss at the hands of an Eastleigh side who scored four goals from just five shots on target.

The hosts tested opposing keeper Jason Matthews on a couple of occasions but showed a distinct lack of a cutting edge for most of the 90 minutes.

Boss Ashley Vickers named an unchanged starting line-up for the visit of his former club, with the only alteration seeing Dave Allen, back from a one-match ban, replace Simon Evans on the bench.

Dorchester had made a bright start to Saturday’s curtain-raiser at Bromley but it was the visitors who took the early initiative last night – Regan Coward being called into action as early as the third minute to beat away a fierce drive from Slabber.

However, the county town side reacted and Matt Groves almost connected with a cross-cum-shot from winger Nick Crittenden.

Ryan Hill, who scored a superb free-kick at the weekend, then released Ryan Moss in the 15th minute.

The home striker gathered well but had ex-Terras’ gloveman Matthews on his toes and the latter made a solid stop to thwart the former.

Steve Devlin was as busy as ever but it was he who gave away possession in the Eastleigh half, allowing the away side to break with purpose and net the opening goal three minutes later.

Will Hendry intercepted Devlin’s intended pass to Ryan Hill and burst forward before playing in ex-Tottenham man Slabber, who calmly slotted past the oncoming Coward.

Again the Magpies showed a positive response and they went close to equalising following a neat interchange down the left between Devlin and Kyle Critchell.

Critchell was the one bearing down on goal but he was denied by a one-handed save from Matthews.

Confident they could find a way back into the game, the hosts were dealt another blow almost immediately as Slabber doubled the Spitfires’ lead.

Brett Williams beat skipper Kevin Hill, albeit via a fortuitous ricochet, and squared for an unmarked Slabber to tap home.

Dorchester enjoyed seven corners in the first period and it was the last of those that yielded the best opportunity. Ryan Hill’s delivery was headed back across goal by Moss but Critchell, diving full length, could only glance wide.

Vickers was clearly unimpressed with his side’s efforts in the first 45 and played his entire hand at the break by making a triple substitution.

One of the replacements – James Coutts – could have made an instant impact but his left-foot shot, after being set up by a neat back heel from Mark Jermyn, lacked power.

For all their endeavour, the Magpies remained inferior in the last third. Eastleigh continued to threaten every time they went forward and it was perhaps no surprise to see them add a third.

Richard Graham’s cross was nodded back into the danger area by Gillespie with Slabber the quickest to react.

And it was 4-0 just past the hour with the Spitfires registering from their first corner of the game.

Graham’s delivery was met by Chris Holland and although his header looked to be heading for the gloves of Coward, Kevin Hill’s intervention took it away from the keeper and into the net.

Dorchester kept fighting though, with Jermyn and Devlin drawing a fine double save from Matthews and Ryan Hill sending a set-piece narrowly over.

Jermyn fired just wide of the right-hand post five minutes from time but the match was long gone as far as the Magpies were concerned and they will have to wait a bit longer, as well as perform much better, to get off the mark in Blue Square Bet South.

* A minute’s silence was held prior to kick-off in memory of Weymouth’s late president Bob Lucas.

Dorchester: Coward, R Hill, Critchell, Jermyn, Walker, K Hill, Crittenden (Coutts 46), Gleeson (Allen 46), Moss, Groves (Douglas 46), Devlin. Subs not used: Martin, Frampton.

Eastleigh: Matthews, Bottomley, Goodhind, Smith, Jordan, Holland, Williams (Palmer 77), Hendry, Slabber (Brown 71), Gillespie, Graham (Mason 84). Subs not used: Robinson, Barfoot.