DORCHESTER TOWN 0

CHESHAM UNITED 5

Heneghan 28, 83, Louis 50, Maja 74, Bates 80

A CALAMITOUS second half collapse at the Clayson Stadium left the Magpies perched just above the relegation zone by a single point after a 5-0 defeat to Chesham United in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South.

Steve Thompson’s unchanged Dorchester side appeared to be in second gear from the outset against a resurgent Generals side who stormed to a well deserved victory.

Dorchester’s task was made all the more difficult when central defender Callum Rose picked up two yellow cards in the same off the ball incident on the stroke of half-time.

He received his marching orders following a scuffle involving several players but it was the prolonged involvement and protest from Rose which appeared to persuade referee Nigel Whitfield to send him off.

The Dorchester defence was nearly caught out in the first minute when a stray pass was picked up by Nathan Blake who raced forward and produced a deep cross to the back post where Dave Pearce looked odds on to score, but somehow pulled his venomous drive wide of the opposite post.

A clearance from Harry Kite then fell invitingly for Luke Heneghan whose snapshot was claimed by Kingsley Latham in the Dorchester goal.

Kite broke up another Chesham attack and strode forward before finding Antonio Diaz whose cross was cut out by the visitors goalkeeper, Ben Goode. A lay off from Billy Lowes presented Cameron Murray with a chance but Goode was equal to his shot.

Dorchester came really close to snatching a 19th minute lead, when Neil Martin’s low shot was saved by Goode using both feet. The ball rebounded to Ben Seymour whose header bounced off the crossbar and was palmed out by Goode as far as Diaz whose low strike was again stopped by Goode on his line.

Chesham broke out of defence quickly and Blake looked certain to score until Josh Bailey produced a fine tackle which forced the striker wide and although Blake regained possession the angle now proved too tight and the shot was pulled wide of the far-post.

Chesham took the lead after 28 minutes, when the dangerous Louis again surged away from his markers and found Heneghan who found the top right corner from 20-yards out.

Chesham eased off for a while but a dangerous cross from Blake was steered around the post by Rose. The resultant Dave Pearce corner was claimed by Latham.

That proved to be the last positive contribution from Rose who shortly after collected two yellow cards after a spot of pushing and shoving involving several players with Rose opting to prolong his involvement which prompted referee Whitfield to send him off.

Chesham came out for the second half clearly looking to extend their lead and early shots from Harry Pearce and Louis flew wide before Louis again showed his strength to shrug off the attention of Bailey and beat Latham with a low shot inside his near post from 12-yards out.

Dorchester struggled to make any impact although Diaz set up Seymour who was quickly closed down and his shot easily blocked. From a Kyle Egan drag back, Diaz sent an effort wide.

Any slight hope of a Magpies revival was snuffed out in the 74th minute when Egan was crowded out and lost possession.

The ball was quickly played in to substitute Jerri Maja who found the bottom right corner to make it 3-0 in Chesham’s favour.

The Buckinghamshire side piled on the pressure as the Magpies no doubt longed for the final whistle.

A Lewis Rolfe centre was nodded wide by Blake while Harry Pearce fired over before a superbly drilled shot from substitute Jon-Jo Bates further extended the Generals lead with ten minutes remaining. Heneghan completed the Magpies misery with a stunning 25 yard strike to the top-right corner on 83 minutes.

Substitute Ashley Pope fired wide for Dorchester but back came Chesham with Luke Warner-Eley sending a fierce attempt wide and Latham denying Maja at his near post before the match ended 5-0.

Dorchester face Hungerford Town in the FA Trophy third qualifying round on Saturday (3pm).

Magpies: Latham, Egan, Martin (Carmichael 57), Rose, Bailey, Kite, Murray (Rodriguez 57), Lowes, Seymour, Diaz (Pope 72), Winsper Subs not used: Panesar-Dower, Williams

Chesham: Goode, Rolfe, Warner-Eley, Martin, Murphy (Bates 76), Brown (C), D. Pearce (Clayton 76), H.Pearce, Louis (Maja 67), Blake, Heneghan Subs not used: Casey, Sota

Referee: Nigel Whitfield - Ferndown

Attendance: 398

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