City were brought back down to earth after their excellent start to the season as they surrended all three points to a Dorchester team who started the day at the bottom of the table on a frustrating afternoon at Milton Road.

Gary Roberts was forced into one change from the team which comprehensively defeated Maidenhead last weekend, their third straight win of the campaign, the injured Dave Sadler making way for Robbie Simpson.

Magpies’ boss Mark Morris reaction to three straight league defeats was to draft in new signings Ryan Moss (who started) and Dan Bully (who was a substitute) with Warren Byerley suspended and Jamie Brown unavailable there were a total of five changes from the team which kicked-off in last Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Bishop’s Stortford.

Goalscorer, Mark Molesley, powers forward on another run

City started in solid if unspectacular fashion. A good period of early possession culminated in a Steve Parmenter shot which drifted narrowly wide. A purposeful run and cross from Paul Booth forced visiting ‘keeper Nick Jones into a good low take with Robbie Simpson in close attendance. Winger Craig Dobson then used his pace to latch onto Glen Fuff’s long clearance and cut in from the right before hitting a rising drive which Jones appeared to tip over the bar although a goal kick was awarded.

Having offered nothing as an attacking force the Magpies were then gifted a 12th. minute lead. There seemed no apparent danger as Jamie Southon shaped to head back to ‘keeper Ricky Millard but a lack of communication resulted in the ball sailing over the stranded former Barnet custodian and into the path of the grateful Matt Groves who bundled home despite the close attentions of Matt Langston.

Within moments of the goal the visitors were dealt a blow with skipper and central defender Alex Browne forced to limp off. Andy Harris coming off the bench to take his palce.

It got worse for Dorchester minutes later when City snatched a leveller. Carl Poore was penalised for handling a crossfield ball in front of Dale Binns wide on the left. Mark Molesley stepped up and struck a low free kick which appeared to deceive an unsighted Jones and creep in at the far post. The former Hayes midfielder maintaining his record of scoring in every game this season.

City failed to capitalise however and they were grateful to Millard who made a good save from a Gary Middleton header which resulted from a Gareth Keeping free kick. The visitors then probed down their right and Moss centred low for Groves who was only denied by an excellent Craig Pope block.

The reprieve was only temporary however. Dorchester again progressed all to easily down the right flank, as the ball was worked inside to Groves Matt Langston did well to hold him up but the former Portsmouth striker’s shot cannoned back off the City centre back and sat up perfectly allowing the player who has already netted over 100 goals for the Dorset club to double his tally for the afternoon.

The hosts were again indebted to Craig Pope shortly before the interval as his intervention prevented Moss from capitalising on good work by Glenn Howes.

Robbie Simpson gets his shot away despite some heavy pressure

City might have levelled in the opening moments of the second period when, from a left sided corner, Dale Binns played in Dobson but the former Lewes winger was disappointingly off target when well placed.

At the other end debutant Moss rounded Jamie Southon and cut inside before shooting low to the left of Millard who pulled off a good save at the foot of the post.

On one of the rare occasions that City were able to penetrate the well organised Magpies a Steve Parmenter centre found Paul Booth who saw his header flash across the face of goal with Jones struggling.

It was to be the former Bishop’s Stortford midfielder’s last contribution as he along with Robbie Simpson made way for Michael Gash and Carl Williams (making his first appearance of the season) in a double change which saw City switch to three at the back, Jamie Southon moving into midfield to try and loosen Dorchester’s grip on the game.

The reshuffle almost produced immediate dividends as Williams delivered a raking cross from the right. The onrushing Dobson failed to connect but the ball landed invitingly at the feet of Binns who agonisingly dragged his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

That was as good as it got for the hosts, who, despite dominating the final fifteen minutes were unable to force Jones to make a save and the game faded to a close. The ability to bounce back from adversity characterised City’s highly successful 2004/2005 season and they have an early opportunity to erase this one from the memory with a Bank Holiday Monday trip to Yeading.