City had to settle for their second consecutive goalless draw in the Nationwide South after failing to take some guilt edge chances at Dorchester’s Avenue Ground.

Josh Simpson looks assured in midfield

It was a game to forget for Dave Sadler. Twice City’s leading marksman spurned glorious chances to give City the lead, one coming deep into second half injury time that would have surely given the visitors all the points. Breaking forward, Carl Williams slotted the ball into Sadler who had slipped in on the blind side of the home defence, in the clear, his first touch was poor and caused the ball to bobble and under challenge from a defender he lifted the ball over the bar.

It was one of the few clear scoring chances created by either side during a match ruined by a gale force wind and poor playing surface.

Mark Jermyn should have done better from 18 yards when he was neatly set up by Matt Groves. Simon Radcliffe made good ground up the right flank before feeding the ball into Groves, his turn and lay-off gave Jermyn a good sight of the goal, but fortunately for City he dragged his shot off target. City hit back immediately with Carl Williams forcing a corner. From the flag kick Michael Gash placed a header on target but Craig Bradshaw in the home goal had no trouble in plucking the ball from under his crossbar.

In the early exchanges, Dorchester enjoyed the territorial advantage but it was City who looked most likely to make a breakthrough as they looked to hit on the break. A good turn and pass from Gash in the centre circle sent Sadler scampering away in the 15th minute, he weaved his way into the box, finding a yard of space for a shot he struck goalwards only to see his effort blocked by a rapidly regrouping defence.

Michael Gash and Dave Sadler lose out in this aerial battle

Williams dragged a shot wide and Lee Chaffey headed a Matt Robinson corner over the bar before Sadler should have put City in front four minutes before the interval. Robinson won possession out on the left hand side. His ball inside found Rob Miller in space, looking up he spotted Sadler nipping in behind Gary Middleton and produced a neat chip over the defenders head to put the striker in the clear. Bradshaw was quickly off his line, and this probably forced Sadler to rush his shot sending the ball flying over the bar.

With only moments of the first half remaining, Justin Keeler saw his 25 yard blaster deflect wide of the target. From the resulting corner, Jermyn produced a diving header that richocheted off Mark Robinson’s outstretched leg and arrowed towards the top corner. The cheers of the home crowd stuck in their throats as Duncan Roberts snatched the ball one handed from beneath the bar.

Dorchester started the second half in positive fashion and within a couple of minutes, Simon Radcliffe flashed a 30 yard effort wide of the post. From the goalkick, Roberts chipped the ball to Craig Pope, as the defender turned to move upfield he was robbed by Keeler. Exploiting the space ahead of him the winger looked odds on to test Roberts but he elected instead to look for Groves with a pass inside. Unfortunately for the striker he slipped as he attempted his shot and the chance was gone.

A number of half chances followed. Robinson had a 30 yard drive comfortably saved and curled another effort over the bar following a short corner routine with Williams. For the home side, Robinson saw a shot following a partially cleared corner, deflect off a team mate and dribble into the hands of Roberts.

Dale Binns surges down the flank

Sadler’s break down the left provided Robinson with a chance at the near-post but his flick header on the run fizzed just wide of the target with Bradshaw a spectator. With 14 minutes remaining, Dorchester produced probably their best chance of the game. A long clearance out of defence was expertly knocked down into the path of Warren Byerley, the striker produced a low bobbling shot that forced Roberts to turn the ball around the post. From the resulting corner, Radcliffe fired in an effort from distance that went only just wide with Roberts rooted to the spot.

In the 80th minute City lost the services of Chaffey after he took Groves full-blooded drive straight in the face. After a considerable amount of treatment, the defender eventually left the field to be replaced by Bradey Stone.

City finished the game strongly and Sadler got in ahead of Alex Browne to prod Williams centre past the post. The deadlock looked to have been broken as the game entered the first minute of injury time. Miller latched onto Williams slide-rule pass and slotted the ball past Bradshaw, as the midfielder wheeled away in celebration it soon became apparent that the linesmans flag had gone up for offside.

Sadler ‘s wonderful chance to secure the points came and went, but there was still time for one last moment of excitement as Dale Binns attempted shot at goal apeared to hit Middleton’s arm, however, City’s appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears and the game ended all square.