TOM Killick highlighted the youth of his Dorchester Town squad after the Magpies’ incredible 12-game unbeaten run ended at Basingstoke.

The Magpies were sent to a 3-1 loss at Winklebury despite dominating for large spells.

Defeat also halted Dorchester’s slim hopes of a play-off spot, although three points would have been insufficient anyway given Bracknell’s victory over champions Chesham.

But Killick addressed the Magpies’ tender years, adding the average age of his roster had gone under the radar.

READ MORE: Basingstoke Town 3-1 Dorchester Town - reaction

Dorchester’s defence, in particularly during April, has been flush with youth.

Luton loanee goalkeeper Jameson Horlick is 21, Exeter loanee centre-back Ed James and defensive partner Ieuan Turner are 19, while full-backs Ollie Haste and Drew Eccott-Young are 20 and 22 respectively.

The only players in the Dorchester squad from Saturday above the 23-year barrier were Jordan Ngalo and Corby Moore, while experienced defenders Jack Dickson and Will Spetch were suspended.

Killick’s comments come after the ex-Poole boss last week aired his view that Dorchester have an “awful lot of potential” for the 2024/25 season should they keep their promising squad together this summer.

He told Echosport: “The thing that people are not taking into account is the youthfulness of them.

“I would imagine, without doubt, that’s the youngest team in the league.

“So, for the youngest team in the league to go on the run they’ve been on I just feel people haven’t quite grasped that’s what’s happened.

“The beauty of it from our point of view, if we can keep them together, is that because of their age and relative inexperience we feel they can improve.

“They can get better physically, technically and mentally. So, I think that bodes really well.

“People need to be aware that that’s the background against this run of results.”

Reflecting further on the Basingstoke loss, Killick felt Dorchester had let their opponents “off the hook”.

“I felt we were I control of the game,” Killick insisted.

“Trouble is, the players thought that and we ended up missing chance after chance in the first half.

“Then suddenly you do think that what’s happened is likely to happen. You can’t keep letting teams off the hook.

“It’s just not being quite ruthless in a game, without being disrespectful to Basingstoke, we felt was there for the taking.

“We just weren’t ruthless enough but credit to Basingstoke, they battled and they’ve ended up doing a number on us.

“We probably had six opportunities in the first half, two of them very strong.

“If you don’t take one of them, often it’ll come back to bite you and that’s what happened.”

Dorchester round off their season with a home game against promotion-chasing AFC Totton, who have already qualified for the play-offs.

The Stags were due to visit Plymouth Parkway last night, knowing a point would take them above Salisbury into second place.