Dorchester Town bagged their first point of the new term on Saturday – but the search for a first goal from open play goes on.

The Magpies shared a goalless draw with pre-season title favourites Havant & Waterloo-ville at the Avenue Stadium to stop the rot of four straight defeats in Blue Square Bet South.

Last year’s corresponding fixture produced seven goals as Dorchester ran out 4-3 winners but there was no danger of a repeat show in this season’s encounter with clear-cut chances few and far between for either side.

There were though, enough opportunities for the hosts to register their maiden victory.

Boss Ashley Vickers failed in his attempts to bring in an unnamed Blue Square Bet Premier striker on loan but did manage to secure the services of summer trialist Saul Otobo. However, the pacy forward later became an unused substitute.

As for the starting XI, the county town chief named an unchanged side from Monday night’s agonising defeat at Basingstoke.

After a tentative opening it was the hosts who created the first opportunity – 14 minutes into the game.

James Coutts picked out Steve Devlin 20 yards from goal and his reverse pass played in Dave Allen. However, the latter’s effort was tame and easy for Hawks’ keeper Aaron Howe.

Another lull in proceedings commenced before the Magpies were forced to make a change. Kyle Critchell made way following a collision with ex-Bournemouth winger Sammy Igoe and on came club captain Kevin Hill.

Within a minute of the substitution, Coutts drove narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

Dorchester began to up the tempo and were almost rewarded, but Mark Jermyn’s cross was too high for the oncoming Ryan Moss.

Havant’s threat could not be ignored though, and they would have drawn first blood had it not been for a fine save from Simon Evans.

Former Magpie Wes Fogden delivered a low centre, an unmarked Mustafa Tiryaki volleyed goalwards and the home gloveman reacted superbly to tip the ball over the top.

Tempers began to flare as a somewhat pedestrian half drew to a close.

The second period though, started in stark contrast to the first with the Magpies twice forcing Howe into action within 60 seconds of the restart. An inadvertent touch from Allen fell invitingly for Moss and he found himself one-on-one with Howe.

The striker’s shot was straight at Howe but the danger was not over and the keeper had to beat away Devlin’s follow-up.

At the other end, Havant skipper Ian Simpemba met Igoe’s left-sided set-piece in the 52nd minute but his header was comfortable for Evans, while divine interven- tion from Coutts prevented Williams from surely opening the scoring.

A long throw from Ryan Hill on the hour sparked pandemonium in the Hawks’ penalty before Allen could only blaze over with Howe stranded.

Coutts then headed wide when perfectly placed, Moss’ angled effort lacked sufficient power while a slight deflection took the sting out of Crittenden’s 20-yard drive.

Havant’s final push to break the deadlock also proved fruitless with Sam Pearce heading their 10th corner of the game wide of goal and Fogden flashing an effort just past the far post.

Magpies: Evans, R Hill, Martin, Jermyn, Walker, Critchell (K Hill 27), Crittenden, Coutts, Moss (Douglas 79), Allen (Groves 69), Devlin. Subs not used: Otobo, Gleeson.

Havant & W: Howe, Newton, Hinshelwood, Robson, Pearce, Simp-emba, Fogden, Hopkinson, Williams (Sewell 82), Tiryaki, Igoe. Subs not used: Whyte, Selley, Baldacchino, Molloy.