Friendly : Exmouth (A) Dorchester

Friendly on 15th December

Dorchester Town 8 Exmouth Town 0

From the Dorset Echo:

DORCHESTER Town manager Robbie Herrera felt the Magpies’ 8-0 mid-season friendly win over Exmouth Town was “well deserved”.

With the friendly arranged due to pauses in both teams’ respective leagues, Dorchester grabbed the chance to sharpen match fitness and boost confidence for when league fixtures resume.

Former Dorchester captain Kevin Hill returned to the Avenue as away boss and even played the final five minutes for Exmouth – who lie two divisions beneath the Magpies.

Speaking to Echosport, Herrera voiced his pleasure at Dorchester’s approach to the game.

He said: “Lots of positives to take out of it. Some well-worked goals and a clean sheet.

“We knew it was going to be a competitive game. I know Kevin Hill’s teams are always up for it and they put themselves about.

“I’ve said to the lads before the game it was going to be tough. If they were expecting an easy ride it’s not going to happen.

“As it was, we’ve played some good football so it was well-deserved.

“The first goal came after a minute or so and it’s always nice to get a lead early doors because during the season so far it’s been us that’s been conceding early and chasing.

“It was nice for the lads to get their noses in front and push on.”

Harry Burns handed Dorchester the lead in the second minute, the midfielder collecting a free-kick and guiding home a deflected strike.

Exmouth keeper Robbie Powell was unlucky to score an own goal 10 minutes later when striker Tom Bath’s effort slammed against the post and in off his back.

Dorchester had a third in the 15th minute when Powell saved a Leighton Thomas curler only for Sam Bayston to prod home.

Thomas was involved again on the cusp of half-time as his searching cross found Bath to notch Dorchester’s fourth.

Thomas, a Cayman Islands international, then bagged the goal his performance deserved seconds after the restart, converting Emile Ngoy’s cross for 5-0.

There was even a rare goal for captain Ash Wells before the hour mark, rifling a first-time effort past Powell from 20 yards.

Thomas claimed a second goal with 25 minutes to play, sneaking in at the back post to bury Oakley Hanger’s fine delivery.

Under-23s skipper Jordi Foot came on to make his first-team debut before Torquay loanee Olaf Koszela rounded off the scoring in style, bending a beauty past Powell to seal an emphatic win.