Magpies: Slough seen off as Dorchester finish on a high

BRADLEY Tarbuck, Ben Watson and Jason Brookes were on target at the Avenue this afternoon as the Magpies ended the campaign with a win over Slough.

The hosts had appeals for a penalty waved away by Winchester referee William Bull as early as the fifth minute.

Dan Smith floated a cross to the far post, Nathan Walker sent the ball back across goal and Slough defender Tom Moran got in the way of Watson’s close-range header.

At first glance it was difficult to see if the Magpies had a case for a spot-kick but the players certainly felt an arm may have been used.

Dorchester went close again six minutes later when Tarbuck surged forward and unleashed a superb effort from 20 yards which whistled just over the visitors’ crossbar.

Slough were slow to get going and the home side took the lead just before the end of the first quarter.

Tarbuck appeared to be aiming for one corner of visiting keeper Luke Williams’ net when his shot deflected off Billy Jeffrey and crept in the other.

The away side came back well and might have equalised had Mark Jermyn not been in the way to block Moran’s goal-bound shot.

Moments later, Ed Smith played in Scott Harris but after getting past home skipper Jake Smeeton, back in the side with Chris Dillon unavailable, the striker produced a tame finish which Alan Walker-Harris dealt with comfortably.

Having survived Slough’s best spell of the match so far, the Magpies should have doubled their advantage on 27 minutes.

Lewis Morgan and Sam Lanahan were involved in a neat piece of interplay, Dan Smith crossed from the right and, following a bad miscue by Walker, Tarbuck headed over.

The Rebels made Dorchester pay for that miss just after the half hour.

And it was all too easy for the visitors as Jake Parsons fed Harris and he coolly lifted the ball over Walker-Harris into the roof of the net.

Both sides had chances to take the lead before the break.

Dan Smith played a give and go with Tarbuck but Moran got back to block the former’s driven effort, while at the other end Jamie Gleeson timed his tackle on Ed Smith to perfection.

Like the first half, the Magpies were the brighter of the two teams in the early stages of the second period.

Williams had to push away a drilled effort from Walker and Watson glanced Dan Smith’s cross wide with his head.

After the Rebels had made their first substitution of the afternoon at the break, the hosts swapped Lanahan for Nick Crittenden on 55 minutes.

Dorchester kept creating chances, Gleeson and Morgan both testing Williams, and they eventually regained the lead courtesy of Watson.

Picking up the ball after Dan Smith’s initial attempt was blocked, Watson curled a beautiful shot beyond Williams and into the far corner of the net.

Things then began to get heated between the players.

Ed Smith was booked for a foul on Matt Oldring and a few minutes later the referee had to intervene as a bit of pushing and shoving broke out.

Slough came close to equalising again on 79 minutes but Walker-Harris tipped Ed Smith’s shot over the bar, while Tarbuck set off at the other end, juggled the ball twice on his head and then saw his effort saved by Williams.

There was still time left for Walker-Harris and Tarbuck to pick up bookings, and Rebels skipper Ben Edwards nearly made it 2-2 in the third minute of injury-time.

However, Walker-Harris made a superb save to deny him before Williams pushed a Crittenden drive out for a corner.

But, in the 94th minute, Brookes, who had replaced Dan Smith late in normal time, smashed home Dorchester’s third.

Watson and Walker combined before the substitute lashed a shot past Williams to make the game safe.

Magpies: Walker-Harris, Lanahan (Crittenden 55), Smeeton, Jermyn, Oldring, Tarbuck, Morgan (Old 90+6), Gleeson, Watson, Walker, Smith (Brookes 87). Subs not used: Horsburgh, Godfrey.

Slough: Williams, Fraser, Parsons, Moran, Jeffrey, Edwards, Read, Short (Gokman 46), Harris, Smith (Martin 84), Parsons. Subs not used: Betts, Phillip.

Bookings: Magpies – Walker-Harris (time wasting, 89), Tarbuck (throwing ball away, 90+1)

Slough – Smith (foul, 65)

Referee: William Bull (Winchester)

Attendance: 525