16th November 2011

DORCHESTER FOOTBALL: Critchell’s late winner boosts Magpies

Dorchester 1 Hampton & Richmond 0 - Att: 447

KYLE Critchell grabbed a dramatic last minute winner to increase caretaker manager Phil Simkin’s unbeaten run in charge to five games and lift the Magpies to ninth in the Blue Square South.

Critchell bundled the ball home from close range with less than a minute left of the three added at the end of a difficult match against bottom side Hampton & Richmond.

After a lacklustre first-half, Dorchester picked the pace up after the interval but despite creating a number of chances they appeared to have wasted the opportunity to continue their good run since Ashley Vickers was relieved of his duties three weeks ago.

In fact it looked as if the Beavers might snatch all the points in the last 15 minutes as suddenly it was Dorchester that found themselves defending, but just as it looked as if they would have to settle for a point, Critchell provided the last gasp winner.

In a match that didn’t have a malicious tackle, James Simmonds became the seventh player to be booked by referee Dan Cook, for pushing over Ashley Nicholls 25 yards from goal.

Beaver’s keeper Craig Ross who had pulled off several good saves to keep his side in the game missed Ben Dickenson’s inswinging free-kick into a crowded penalty area and the ball appeared to strike Critchell as he challenged and rolled into the net.

Simkin was able to name an unchanged starting line-up to the one that gained an excellent point at Chelmsford City on Monday.

The first half produced few scoring opportunities as both sides appeared to lack the ability to string too many passes together. Ryan Moss’s cross was headed behind for a corner by Beavers skipper Matt Ruby, before the striker’s shot-cum-cross missed the far post and the inrushing Dickenson.

The Magpies were dealt a blow on 31 minutes when Moss had to be replaced by Rico Wilson after he suffered a blow to his lower ribs when heading a corner away.

It was Wilson however that helped set up the county town’s best chance of the first-half when he fed Nick Crittenden wide on the right. His inch perfect cross was met a soaring Dickenson but his thumping header flew wide of the left hand post.

Alan Walker-Harris once more proved what a great signing he has been soon after when he was called upon to keep the Magpies level.

Dave Tarpey, who kept the Magpies defence on their toes all afternoon, cleverly tricked his way past two defenders before firing in a fierce shot which Walker-Harris saved with his legs as a disappointing first-half came to a close.

The second-half began at a much higher tempo and Joel Ledgister had Walker-Harris diving to his left to stop his 20-yard shot that took a deflection off Jake Smeeton.

Immediately Wilson headed over Neil Martin’s cross before Dickenson went even closer with a curling left foot shot from the corner of the penalty area that just cleared the angle of the goal frame.

The later errant Ross then produced a superb double save from Crittenden on 52 minutes. Wilson and Martin combined well down the left before the latter’s cross was met by the former Glover on the volley which Ross beat away before grabbing the loose ball at his feet as he followed up.

Crittenden who once again showed that whilst he may have lost a little of his speed, has lost none of his skill and guile, then fired in a free-kick which Ross punched away under pressure back to Crittenden, who immediately fired in a stunning drive which just cleared the bar.

Little was seen of the Hampton attack at this point, but Simmonds did test Walker-Harris, but his volley from the edge of the box was straight at the keeper.

However, with nothing to lose, the visitors grew in confidence and Walker-Harris was forced to palm away Tarpey’s 25-yard free-kick before having to punch away Ledgister’s cross, before the on-loan striker shot straight at him. At the other end Martin finished an impressive run with a weak shot.

With time running out Walker-Harris almost gifted the Beavers a goal when he let Tarpey’s shot slip out of his fingers as he went to gather over his head. Fortunately he managed to pull the ball back from crossing the line as Ledgister knocked him down in his efforts to get to the ball to concede a free-kick.

In added time Martin blasted wide from 30 yards before Critchell’s last gasp winner.

A minute’s silence was held before the match as an act of remembrance, whilst a half-time collection raised £126.56 for the Royal British Legion.