City were forced to settle for their first draw of the season as a determined Dorchester side twice pegged them back in an entertaining Friday night encounter at Milton Road.

The two teams fared very differently in their last outings, the Lilywhites winning at Worcester and the Magpies losing at home to arch rivals Weymouth, both in the FA Cup, but Gary Roberts and Mark Morris each chose to name unchanged sides from the weekend.
The opening exchanges suggested an even contest was on the cards as two neat, quick sides probed cautiously for the first ten minutes. City were the first to threaten when Lee Chaffey’s strong run down the left gave him the room to slide in a low cross that was only cleared as far as Richard Scott who rifled over.

The Magpies soon showed that they weren’t about to gift City a fifth successive victory as they countered strongly. As a Lilywhites’ attack broke down the visitors worked the ball quickly out to the left where Justin Keeler found the space to run at Matt Langston. With the City skipper only able to put a temporary hold on his progress the former Bournemouth striker fired dangerously across the face of goal forcing Alan Calton to make an excellent save low to his left. Jose Barandiaran’s resultant corner fell perfectly for Mark Jermyn whose powerful low drive was goal bound until Carl Williams’ outstretched boot deflected the ball onto the inside of the post and across the face of the six yard box before City were able to clear.

In the Lilywhites’ next meaningful attack they broke the deadlock with a goal that owed everything to Dave Sadler’s poacher’s instincts. Richard Scott’s free kick was cleared straight back to the former Peterborough midfielder whose second delivery prompted the Magpies defence to step up, however, they were slow to react leaving Dave Sadler in the box and clear on goal, an unconvincing challenge from Craig Bradshaw failed to prevent City’s top scorer netting for the seventh time of the season with a cool back header.

Rob Miller and Alex Browne chase a loose ball

As City moved up a gear good work by Jon Stevenson and Carl Williams wide on the right set up a shooting opportunity for Scott who saw a long range effort deflected wide of the target off the back of a visiting defender.

Dorchester then gained something of a foot hold on the game and saw a twenty five yard strike from Jamie Brown skate across the face of goal. Simon Radcliff’s neat lay off then set up Brown again, this time his rising drive was on target but Alan Calton flew to his left to palm the ball behind. Another quality delivery from Barandiaran found Mark Jermyn who shaved the outside of the post with a powerful downward header. As City broke back immediately Jon Stevenson came deep to collect the ball before going on a mazy run into the Magpies’ area and delivering a superb chipped cross onto the forehead of Rob Miller at the far post but the former Bedford midfielder headed agonisingly wide when a chance to double the lead seemed there for the taking.

Sustained City pressure down the right then saw a Richard Scott corner cleared only as far as Williams whose spiralling cross-cum-shot sailed straight into the net but with a crowd of players around Bradshaw the goal was chalked off for a foul on the ‘keeper. The Lilywhites almost snatched a priceless second goal on the stroke of half –time but Anthony Griffin was on hand to clear Dave Sadler’s header (from a Scott corner) off the line.

Only five minutes of the second period had elapsed before the visitors were back on level terms. Whilst they had made a positive opening to the second period they were perhaps a little fortunate with the leveller. Brown was allowed the space to deliver a telling cross from the left which Mark Robinson met with the cleanest of headers into the roof of the net beyond a helpless Alan Calton, but moments before the centre was delivered a subtle push on Glen Fuff prevented the City central defender from rising to challenge.

With the game now evenly balanced Dorchester continued to force the pace, Dave Sadler was muscled out of possession in midfield and Barandiaran tried his luck from distance but the Basque midfielder failed to force a save from Calton.

Dorchester were again unable to deal effectively with a Scott corner and the partially cleared cross fell to Chaffey who attempted to free Sadler down the left, the ball bounced back off the former Hinckley striker and landed invitingly for Simpson who hit a screaming first time shot which shaved the crossbar with Bradshaw fully extended.

A quick Robbie Simpson turn leaves a couple of defenders flat footed

Just after the hour City regained the lead. On this occasion Richard Scott’s corner was met by a bullet header from Glen Fuff, a deflection only helped the ball past Bradshaw as the former King’s Lynn defender, who has enjoyed an outstanding season so far, celebrated his first goal for the Milton Road club.

To their credit Dorchester came straight back at City and only moments after the goal a decent strike by Brown whistled narrowly wide of the target. Then as the Lilywhites failed to clear their lines effectively a good cross by Radcliff found Barandarian who showed excellent technique in shooting on the turn only for Calton to dive full length and fingertip the ball around the post.

With the visitors gaining the upper hand in midfield Rob Miller was overpowered allowing Keeler a clear sight of goal but his shot was too close to Calton who gathered comfortably low to his right. City countered with lightening speed and Sadler found himself free on the edge of the area, with the Dorchester defenders inexplicably backing off he opted for placement over power and rolled a deft shot onto the face of Bradshaw’s right hand upright. With the loose ball still deep in Dorchester territory Simpson fed Stevenson who forced Bradshaw into a smart stop low to his left.

However, failure to capitalise on this pressure was to cost City dear as they conceded a second equaliser some twelve minutes from time. Again the Magpies steamrollered through the City midfield and got the ball wide where Fuff was somewhat harshly adjudged to have fouled Barandarian. With the Lilywhites slow to re-organise a quick free kick was worked back to Radcliff whose pin-point centre was met by an equally impressive header from Alex Browne which arched over an outstretched Calton and into the roof of the net.

Despite a few more heart stopping moments at either end neither ‘keeper was seriously troubled further. The introduction of Dale Binns for Jon Stevenson altered the emphasis of the City attack in the closing minutes but the Magpies held firm for a point which, on the balance of play they will feel they deserved.

The Lilywhites had chances to win the game but equally were indebted to Alan Calton for three vital saves and, looking at the bigger picture, they will be pleased to extend their unbeaten run to five matches ahead of next weekend’s trip to Tooting in the FA Cup.