Monday 1 January

Nationwide Conference South

Dorchester Town 0 v County 4

 

Once the heavens had deposited all the rain imaginable on The Avenue Stadium in Dorset it was County who rained goals on their hosts with a breathtaking second half performance. Once Julian Alsop had scored his second goal in 48 hours, Jason Bowen, with a brace, and Craig Hughes helped  themselves  and  posted  up  a  scoreline  which does not  tell  the  true story of a match which was

finally balanced for an hour. County made sure they avenged their Boxing Day defeat by The Magpies in some style, sporting their 'Barcelona' maroon and blue striped away kit for the first time. 

 

County moved Lee Jenkins to right back to accommodate the returning Nathan Davies in midfield, and started with Richard Evans and Jason Bowen on the flanks, and the dynamic duo of Craig Hughes and Julian Alsop up front.      

 

The Magpies had the better of an entertaining first period but despite swinging eight wind assisted corners into the County goal mouth could not find a way through a resilient Exiles’ defence in which captain John Brough and replacement right back Lee Jenkins stood out. County star Jason Bowen thought he had given the visitors an early lead but Simon Evans made a miraculous save to tip away his close range volley. County were enjoying ample possession but it was the hosts who exerted the greatest pressure as the first half drew on. Matt Groves, whose goal had settled the fixture at Newport six days earlier, came closest to breaking the deadlock but saw his 20 yard shot flash agonisingly wide of goal.

 

Shane Brewer then made a goal line clearance from David Town after Groves’ shot had rebounded off Mark Ovendale into his path. Lee Collier nearly put the Exiles ahead at the other end with a sweetly hit volley which sailed inches past the upright. The conclusion of the talk of the terrace over the half time 'cuppa' was that this match could go either way and that goals were overdue.

 

The Magpies continued to take the game to County and only a last ditch tackle from Ian Hillier prevented Groves from scoring before shots by Mark Jermyn and Justin Keeler were fractionally wide of their target.  

County got the vital goal which turned the match just after the hour. Jason Bowen returned Richard Evans’ corner into the box and Julian Alsop met John Brough’s knock down with a diving header past Evans. From this point on there was only one team in it and County played stylish and devastating football.

 

Jason Bowen was the first to react to Evan’s save from namesake Richard’s shot to direct the ball through a crowded goal mouth and into the far corner of the net on 69 minutes. Dorchester rallied but could not break down a County defence which was in no mood to give out late Christmas presents to their hosts. The goal hungry captain John Brough nearly scored a third but Evans somehow managed to tip his well directed header onto the bar and away to safety. 

 

Bowen put the result beyond any doubt with six minutes remaining with an audacious goal. Simon Evan’s misdirected clearance from the corner of his box found Bowen just inside the attacking half. With full confidence in his ability Bowen hit an unstoppable first time shot from fully 45 yards past the retreating keeper into an unguarded net. Craig Hughes added a late fourth goal having been set free of the defence by substitute Matt Green who continues to attract the interest of a number of football league clubs. 

 

County could not have started the New Year and the second half of the season in a more accomplished way – four goals, three points, a clean sheet and no new injury worries. County now face the 'double header' with Histon with the small matter of an FAW Premier Cup quarter final with Wrexham in between.

 

Line Ups              

County: Ovendale, L Jenkins, Brewer, Davies, Brough (C), Hillier, Bowen, Collier (Garner 88), Alsop (Green 74), Hughes, Evans Subs Not Used: O’Sullivan, Edwards, Giles

Dorchester: Evans, Hill (Bowles 80), Seaborne, Jermyn, Browne (C), Morgan, Robinson, Gleeson, Town (De Mata 69), Groves, Keeler Subs Not Used: Parker, Rowes, Lopez

  

Scorers

County: Alsop (64), Bowen (69 and 84) and Hughes (86)

 

Bookings

Dorchester:  Morgan (foul)

 

Officials:

Referee: M Rowley (Reading); Assistant Referees: N Fry (Chard) and P Milton (Watchet) 

 

Attendance:

709

 

Conditions:

Heavy rain and high winds

 

Man of the Match:

Official Dorchester Man of the Match: Mark Jermyn

Reporter's Dorchester Man of the Match: Jamie Gleeson

Reporter's County Man of the Match: Lee Collier

 

Match Rating:

5/5

 

 

  
     
 

 

  
     
 

 

  
     
 

 

  
     
 

 

  
     
 

 

  
     
     
     
     
     
 

Site Meter