City continued their encouraging start to the season by recording a second Milton Road victory within a week but the three points were only secured when an injury time goal finally saw off the spirited challenge of newly-promoted Dorchester.

The Lilywhites looked to start where they left off on Tuesday by putting the visitors’ goal under early pressure. Danny Bloomfield forcing a couple of early scares in the centre of the Magpies’ defence but a corner conceded by Andy Harris came to nothing.

Dorchester's Andy Harris clears, under pressure from Lee Pluck

With only three minutes gone however Lee Pluck nearly gifted Dorchester an early lead. A woefully under-hit back-pass was seized upon by Matthew Tubbs who found himself in the clear with only Martin Davies to beat. The City ‘keeper held his nerve, stood up and forced Tubbs to make a decision which he did, firing at the legs of Davies and behind for a corner, great work by the Lilywhites custodian but a massive let off for the home side.

City continued their encouraging start to the season by recording a second Milton Road victory within a week but the three points were only secured when an injury time goal finally saw off the spirited challenge of newly-promoted Dorchester.

The Lilywhites looked to start where they left off on Tuesday by putting the visitors’ goal under early pressure. Danny Bloomfield forcing a couple of early scares in the centre of the Magpies’ defence but a corner conceded by Andy Harris came to nothing.

With only three minutes gone however Lee Pluck nearly gifted Dorchester an early lead. A woefully under-hit back-pass was seized upon by Matthew Tubbs who found himself in the clear with only Martin Davies to beat. The City ‘keeper held his nerve, stood up and forced Tubbs to make a decision which he did, firing at the legs of Davies and behind for a corner, great work by the Lilywhites custodian but a massive let off for the home side.

As Dorchester looked to capitalise on this early initiative Mark Rawlinson fired over having been set up by Justin Keeler on the left. Moments later Keeler this time beat Craig Pope, got outside the City right-back and fired a low curling shot destined for the bottom corner of the net until Martin Davies, at full stretch, turned the ball behind for another corner.

City hit back almost immediately, as Alex Brown fouled Robbie Simpson, Rob Nightingale slipped the quickly taken free kick inside Mark Jermyn and into the path of Louis Riddle whose dangerous low cross was gathered in by Mark Ormerod amongst a flurry of boots. On 10 minutes City created an even better opening. Simpson’s deft flick from a Craig Pope through ball fell invitingly for Danny Bloomfield but the City striker rolled his shot wide of the target when well placed. City were enjoying a decent spell of pressure, Simpson was again fouled by Brown and came close to heading in Rob Nightingale’s resultant free kick only to be denied by Brown’s headed clearance. Nightingale then shot over the bar after good work involving Miller and Riddle had created the opening.

In their next attack City snatched the lead. A long goal kick from Martin Davies was headed behind by Andy Harris at the expense of a corner. Rob Nightingale and Rob Miller worked a short corner routine which saw the former flight the ball in from the left onto the head of Lee Pluck who glanced a header wide of Ormerod and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Far from settling the nerves City surrendered the lead within less than 60 seconds. Straight from the kick-off returning old boy Matt Hann was allowed to advance down the right wing far enough to centre the ball in towards the penalty spot and onto the head of Martin Shepherd who, unmarked, was presented with the relatively straight forward task of planting the ball back across an unprotected Martin Davies and into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Bloomfield surges forward

As City wobbled against opponents causing them far more defensive headaches than Tuesday’s visitors Chelmsford only the assistant referee’s flag denied the Magpies the lead on 30 minutes. A Jermyn free kick from the right found Keeler who rose above Pope to head back across the box for Shepherd who planted a header beyond Davies but to the relief of the Milton Road crowd the goal was ruled out.

As City regrouped and enjoyed a spell of dominance Matty Homes picked up the first yellow card of the game for a mis-timed tackle on Rob Miller in centre field.

Moments later Pluck picked-out Miller with a free kick, City’s industrious midfielder played in Danny Bloomfield, forcing Ormerod to save at his near post and push the ball behind for a corner.

Rob Nightingale’s corner kick was only partially cleared, falling to Jamie Godbold on the edge of the box, he fired the ball back into the danger area where Robbie Simpson showed smart reactions to flash a header past Ormerod but like Martin Shepherd before him, he was correctly flagged for offside. City came close again moments later, Godbold demonstrating good awareness, played the ball through the inside right channel for Miller who shot low beating Ormerod but he could only look on as his effort rolled agonisingly wide. More good work across the centre of the park saw Simpson angle the ball into the corner where Louis Riddle did well to keep the play alive and crossed for Danny Bloomfield who sent a looping header narrowly off target.

As the Lilywhites continued to press Jermyn was carded for an untidy challenge on Robbie Simpson but this did little to diminish the workrate of City’s teenage striker, who played a neat reverse pass into the path of Danny Bloomfield but from what looked like an acute angle the former Bournemouth marksman elected to shoot, firing high of the target. City finished the half on the up as a soaring Louis Riddle, again menacing in the air, guided the ball skilfully into the path of Robbie Simpson whose first touch took him clear of Brown but Ormerod reacted bravely and smothered at the feet of the on-rushing Lilywhites number 10.

As City looked to maintain the momentum they built up towards the interval the lead was restored on 51 minutes. Godbold, demonstrating all the attributes Gary Roberts promised the Milton Road faithful when he signed, was felled by Michael Walker wide on the left. In almost a carbon copy of the opener Rob Nightingale floated an accurate centre onto the head of Lee Pluck who glanced a well placed header across Ormerod who despite getting his left hand to the ball couldn’t prevent it from going in.

Only three minutes later City went further ahead. More good build up on the left saw Robbie Simpson play a ball into the feet of Bloomfield who was running right to left across the box, but away from goal, when he was clipped by Ormerod who had rushed from his line in attempt to avert the danger. Mr Pollard, who refereed the game unfussily throughout, correctly produced only a yellow card. Rob Nightingale, assured from the penalty spot doubled his tally for the season and City found themselves two goals clear with well over 30 minutes still remaining.

The home side still looked vulnerable however and Martin Davies had to be alert to gather in a rising Justin Keeler free-kick as Dorchester looked to hit straight back.

Lean on me - Robbie Simpson and Dorchester's Mark Jermyn

Neat inter-passing between Miller and Godbold created the space for Bloomfield to run at the heart of the Magpies’ defence but his progress was unceremoniously halted by Mark Rawlinson who became the fourth Dorchester player of the afternoon to be cautioned. Miller’s quick free kick played in Riddle who had switched to the right but his fierce low shot was beaten away by Ormerod.

The Magpies were still playing with a confidence that suggested they could strike back. Keller’s swinging cross from the left was met by a powerful Matthew Tubbs header which dipped narrowly over the bar with Martin Davies back-peddling.

With an uncomfortable 20 minutes remaining Dorchester came right back into the reckoning.

As City struggled to clear their lines properly the ball fell to the impressive Michael Walker on the left, he side-stepped Craig Pope and was then allowed all the time he needed to curl a superbly placed drive wide of a fully extended Martin Davies and into the top right hand corner of the net.

With seventeen minutes to go both sides made changes. Chasing an equaliser, the Magpies withdrew Matt Hann and Matty Holmes, replacing them with Jamie Brown and Stuart Cooper respectively. For the Lilywhites, Danny Bloomfield who had taken one or two heavy challenges was replaced by new loan signing the tall Tobi Jinadu, Gary Roberts hoping that the front line would be able to hold the ball up and protect the narrow lead.

It was still Dorchester who looked most likely at this stage of the game, recent arrival Jamie Brown flashing a shot across the face of goal after City had failed to clear effectively from an attack down the left. Matthew Tubbs was next to test Martin Davies minutes later.

As time ebbed away City managed to stifle the Magpies’ attempts to get back on terms and as Jinadu found his feet in attack, pose an alternative attacking threat. A long Martin Davies goal kick found the former Bristol Rovers’ player with his back to goal and showing decent technique he fired narrowly wide. With the 90 minutes complete Rob Nightingale cleared long into Dorchester’s right back position. The willing Jinadu chased down Alex Brown and robbed him near the touchline. A good turn of pace took him clear of the central defender, looking up he squared to Robbie Simpson who curled the ball into an unguarded net from just inside the box, 4-2 and the collective sigh of relief amongst the home fans was audible.

A good battling display, the performance possibly lacking the class of the victory over Chelmsford but against much stearner opposition who posed a significant attacking threat of their own. As this young team continues to knit together things are bound to ebb and flow but there is no lack of commitment or willingness to play the game in the right way and so far it’s paying dividends.