DORCHESTER TOWN 1 HUNGERFORD TOWN 0

GRAHAM Kemp’s mission to bring a feel-good factor back to the Avenue got off to a bright start as his side stunned Hunger-ford Town to seal all three points on Saturday.

Ben Joyce’s 54th minute strike clinched the encounter for Kemp’s troops to record their first league victory in seven attempts, and seal back-to-back wins in all competitions.

It was a hectic morning for the county town chief off the field, as he successfully got the paperwork through to sign midfielder Micky Hubbard on non-contract terms hours before kick-off, and handed him his debut for the club as a second-half substitute.  

Fellow new signing Chris Dillon was also given his first appearance, as he started at the heart of the defence and put in a man of the match display.

After a competitive opening without many clear opportunities, prolific Crusaders’ forward Mark Draycott had the ball in the net on 17 minutes following a melee in the Dorchester area, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

And after surviving that scare, Kemp’s side then came to life through Dan Smith just short of the half-hour mark, as he saw two of his shots blocked within three minutes of each other.

Smith was then influential in the best chance of the half shortly before the interval.

His corner was delivered to the head of Nathan Walker, who must have thought he had scored with a header, only for the ball to be cleared off the line to safety.   

Following the break, Hubbard was soon introduced when he replaced the injured Oakley Hanger, who was forced to come off with a dislocated knee and went to hospital soon after.

But in making the switch, Hubbard only took five minutes to make an impact on proceedings.

His corner was whipped to the back post, where Nathan Walker headed the ball back across goal and as the visitors failed to clear their lines, up popped Joyce to stab home.

Dorchester could have then had a second when Dan Cann held the ball up well and got goal-side of his man in the Crusaders’ box, he chipped the ball to the back post where Sam Lanahan was arriving late, but could not keep his header down.

From there on, the Magpies were made to battle for all three points as Hungerford substitute Lee Smith, who had come on just before half-time to replace former Republic of Ireland international Alan O’Brien, started to cause problems.

Looking lively on the left flank, he cut inside and smashed a shot that fizzed narrowly wide of a post with Dorchester stopper Alan Walker-Harris well beaten, and then made the goalkeeper work moments later, forcing him to tip another effort around a post.

A further chance fell to Draycott, who had a split second to react from close range at the back post, but Walker-Harris was first to pounce on the loose ball, as an elated Kemp saw his side hold on.

Magpies: Walker-Harris 7, Hanger 6 (Hubbard 7 48), Smeeton 6, Gleeson 7, N Walker 6, Dillon 7, Critchell 6 (Buckley 81), Lanahan 6 (Brookes 6 75), Cann 6, Joyce 7, Smith 7. Subs not used: S Walker, Murphy.

Hungerford: Strudley, Busby, John, Boardman, Day, Rees, Clark (Stow 70), Herring, Mpi (Goodger 7), Draycott, O’Brien (Smith 45). Subs not used: Horgan, Pilling.

Bookings: None

Referee: Robert Dabbs (Plymouth)

Attendance: 392