New signing Lloyd Opara on the attack for Saints
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Town and City shared the points after a disappointing game in which both sides spurned opportunities to take all three.
After two disappointing defeats on the road by lower placed opposition, City
player manager Steve Castle selected himself for the first time this season and the return from injury of new signing Ram Marwar left Adam Parker and Gary Wraight on the bench. Lloyd Opara, a new signing this week from Swindon Town partnered Lee Clarke up front and making his League debut this term was
James Robinson, in goal for the injured Mel Capleton.
City came close to a dream start within 20 seconds of the kick-off when the Magpies 'keeper, Craig Bradshaw misjudged a through ball which was seized upon by Opara who was denied by a superb block on the goal line by Andy Harris. The home side had the better of the opening exchanges and it was 12 minutes before Robinson was troubled, required to make a good double save from Harris after Town's first corner.
10 minutes later, Robinson again frustrated Harris with a fine reaction save after a goalmouth scramble.
The City midfield responded led in attack by Ben Walshe wide on the left, and his cross on 23 minutes was met at the far post by Opara whose downward header was just wide. Minutes later a cross from Walshe was acrobatically tipped over his bar by Bradshaw at full stretch. Castle led his side and was himself close to scoring, first with a header and then with a trademark drive from distance.
The opening goal came moments before the interval. Richard Thomas sent Clarke on a run on the left and the young striker's cross was met by the boot of the visitor's centre back Alex Browne and the attempted interception flew into the back of the net.
Dorchester equalised within seconds of the restart. The Saints lost the ball in the midfield and a quick pass from Gary Middleton split the home defence. Two strikers appeared to be offside but the assistant referee waived play on and Juan Ugarte gave Robnson no chance from close range.
The goal spurred The Magpies who stretched the home defence and created and
wasted several opportunities to take the lead. On 57 minutes, Matt Greaves was given time on the edge of the box but could only shoot tamely straight at Robinson. moments later, the same player shot high from 12 yards.
The visitors best chance came just after the hour when Robinson slipped but managed to parry a fierce shot by Ugarte from a free kick. Greaves was firts to the rebound and his clipped cross found Simon Radcliffe who shot high over the bar.
City resisted the pressure and began to crate chances of their own. Castle pounced upon another error by Bradshaw who droppped a Walshe cross but the managers effort from close range was deflected for a corner. The Saints best chance of the half fell to Lee Clarke who, after another goalmouth scramble was denied first by Bradshaw via the post and then by Middleton who bravely dived to take the strikers follow up shot full in the face at point blank range.
In the final moments of the game, Matt Hann who joined the Saints from Dorchester in the summer, shot across the face of the goal and just before the whistle, City skipper Chris Zoricich took a free kick from 30 yards which zipped low inches outside the left hand post.
Report by Tom Lewis |
