DORCHESTER Town boss Callum Brooks admitted it was “imperative” the Magpies were not beaten after overseeing a 0-0 draw against Merthyr Town at the Clayson Stadium.

Brooks’ men collected just their second league clean sheet of the season after Tom Bath saw an effort pushed onto the near post by keeper Alexander Harris, while Merthyr’s Ian Traylor hit the bar with a second-half free-kick.

But Brooks’ main objective was to avoid defeat after Saturday’s galling 6-0 loss at Weston-super-Mare.

He told Echosport: “I was looking for a reaction – we were demanding one. It was essential as human beings after Saturday that a reaction was imperative. I felt we got that from the players.

“The work rate was good, we defended the long balls excellently, the shape looked good and we made more passes than we have done in recent games.

“I’m not saying it was fluent, or massively exciting, but it was so important not to get beaten.

“We’re desperate to win games of football, but after Saturday and what happened I felt it was so important not to get beaten.

“Being honest, they had a couple of chances, but we’ve hit the post early on – the keeper’s pulled off a wonderful save.

“In a 0-0 game you’re looking to create a chance at the end and we had it with Billy Lowes.

“He had a good opportunity to slide Blairo (Tom Blair) in, but it didn’t come off. If you’re not going to go and win the game, take a point.”