Dorchester TOWN 0
WOKING 1
Ademola 62
DESPITE delivering an improved display, a distinct lack of creativity sentenced Dorchester Town to a third straight defeat in Blue Square Bet South.
The Magpies, who were simply awful last Tuesday night, were by no means out-fought by their high-flying visitors, but a top-drawer finish from Moses Ademola ensured Woking maintained their grip on top spot.
For all their endeavour, the hosts failed to register a single shot on target and boss Ashley Vickers was left to rue the financial gulf between the two sides.
He said: “We held our own throughout against a very good side and the boys showed a real fighting spirit, as well as a huge amount of commitment, but we lacked a bit of quality in that killer area, which money buys.
“Like I’ve said before the difference in stature of the two clubs is huge. That’s not to say we’re not happy with what we’ve got because we are, but money gets you quality in crucial areas of the pitch.”
The manager added: “I thought we defended ever so well – we just pushed out a little bit too high for the goal.
“There were a lot of positives though, including Lewis Tallack, who was excellent. He’s only 18 but he was super. He hasn’t played a lot of men’s football but they speak highly of him at Portsmouth and he did great for us.
“We’ll move on to Saturday and the kind of spirit and endeavour we showed against Woking will get us far more positive results than not.”
With winger Nick Crittenden and keeper Nick Jordan both injured, the latter having been knocked off his bike the previous day, and Kyle Critchell stricken with illness, the Magpies made three enforced changes from Tuesday’s debacle at home to Weston-super-Mare.
Also dropping out of the starting XI were Ryan Dovell and Rico Wilson.
Alan Walker-Harris, Ben Dicken-son, Steve Devlin and Ashley Nicholls all returned in an unchan-ged formation while full-back Lewis Tallack, on loan from Portsmouth, made his county town debut.
Due to his limited resources, Vickers was included among the substitutes.
Woking meanwhile, managed by Vickers’ former mentor Garry Hill, named ex-Magpie Giuseppe Sole in their line-up.
With Tuesday’s poor performance still fresh in the memory, the hosts were keen to make amends early on. And a better connection from Nathan Walker, following a Chris Flood corner, could well have given the Magpies a dream start.
Woking were presented with an even better opening in the fifth minute but with only Walker-Harris to beat, Ademola scuffed wide from just inside the box.
The clash was pretty open in the early exchanges and moments later a sliding Ryan Moss was unable to keep his effort down after gambling on Dickenson’s cross-cum-shot.
Quick thinking from Devlin almost resulted in an audacious opener. The home midfielder spotted Woking keeper Aaron Howe off his line but the 60-yard free-kick sailed narrowly over the top.
The remainder of the first half was something of a war of attrition, as Walker will certainly testify after being fixed up with a Terry Butcher-style bandage following a clash of heads.
But in added time, the Cards’ first corner, taken by Sole, presented two opportunities in the blink of an eye. First, defender Joe McNerney’s shot was well blocked by Walker-Harris before Ademola nodded over the rebound.
The Magpies reverted to 4-4-2 seven minutes into the second half, Dickenson making way for Wilson and the latter partnering Moss up top.
But the switch failed to pay dividends and the visitors took the lead just past the hour.
Derek Duncan picked out Ademola, who cut inside before making space to deliver a fine strike with the outside of his boot, leaving Walker-Harris clutching at thin air.
Dorchester huffed and puffed for an equaliser but were still unable to create any clear-cut openings, while at the other end Walker-Harris had to be at his best to tip over Paris Cowan-Hall’s long-range drive.
The woodwork then came to the Magpies’ rescue as Ademola was afforded time and space to control Elvis Hammond’s cross before breezing past Gary Bowles and clipping the outside of the far post.
The Cards continued to threaten on the break and only a last-ditch header from Neil Martin prevented Ademola grabbing his and the away side’s second of the game.
Dorchester kept plugging away as the clock ticked down but ultimately paid for an absence of quality in the final third.
Magpies: Walker-Harris, Tallack (Symes 66), Martin, Nicholls, N Walker, Bowles, Devlin, Gleeson, Moss, Flood (Dovell 85), Dickenson (Wilson 52). Subs not used: Bell, Vickers.
Cards: Howe, Newton, Duncan, Ricketts, McNerney, Davies, Cowan-Hall (Turnbull 89), King, Ademola, Gray (Hammond 69), Sole (Binns 69). Subs not used: Doyle, Kennedy.
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