20th July 2019

Much-changed for the trip to Dorset, the green and whites went close to breaking the deadlock with a flurry of chances for Ryan Seager before the hosts finally broke the deadlock on 44 minutes. 

Tom Blair showed a deft-touch to apply a finish to a ball over the top before wholesale changes at the break for the visitors saw a change in momentum.

Equalising eight minutes into the second half thanks to a penalty from an unnamed trialist, the visitors showed their added quality with a host of a chances but couldn’t find a winner to head back to Somerset with a draw.

Getting their fourth summer run out, Darren Sarll opted to start with an unfamiliar eleven as five trialists joined Seager, Daniel Ojo, Gabby Rogers, Nestor Shako and two under-18s. 

With the makeshift starting eleven slow to get going, the hosts registered the first meaningful attempt on goal as Tom Bath’s low drive from the edge of the box was collected by the on trial goalkeeper. 

Growing into the match, captain for the day Seager had two chances in quick succession as the quarter-of-an-hour mark approached. 

First denied by a quickfire double save from Shane Murphy, the striker was again sniffing around in the box soon after to turn a trialist’s cross over the bar.

At the other end, Bath continued to provide the Magpies’ goal threat as he acrobatically volleyed high and wide before Yeovil created another chance from a wide position. 

Shako’s pull-back for Seager saw the striker turn and shoot, flying a yard wide to mark the end of the opening half-an-hour.

In a match showing all the traits of a pre-season fixture, Bath got another attempt on goal when his header had to be routinely tipped over the bar before a relatively tame opening 45 minutes came to life 60 seconds prior to the break.

A long ball over the top saw Blair beat the trialist stopper to the ball on the edge of the box and poke home a rare shot on target to give the Southern League Premier side the lead. 

Introducing some more familiar faces at the halfway stage with eight changes, Sarll’s side were soon on level terms. 

Now dominating possession, one of the three trialists who remained from the first half won a penalty on the byline and duly converted from 12 yards to restore parity. 

Looking to complete the comeback, Craig Alcock drew a smart stop with a powerful hit from Gabby Rogers’ deep cross before a trialist introduced at the break had a deflected shot hacked off the line after clever play from Rhys Murphy. 

Moving forward with some flowing football, another trialist rounded off a patient move with a 20-yard drive that Murphy held well as the one-way traffic continued. 

Needing to turn their possession into a winning goal the green and whites pressed until the final whistle but couldn’t find a further chance to beat Murphy as it finished level.

Dorchester Town: Murphy; Egan (Morris 89′), Winsper (Lanahan 72′), Strugnell (Martin 62′), Sa; Panesar-Dower (Brookes 84′), Lowes (Williams 88′), Davis (Wright 64′), Blair (Lowes 81′); Bath (Batista 74′), Rose.
Subs not used: 

Yeovil Town: Trialist; Calverley (Skendi 46′), Fleming (Collins 46′), Ojo (Bradbury 46′); Shako (Alcock 46′), John (Worthington 46′), Trialist, Trialist (Waugh 81′); Trialist (Trialist 46′); Seager (Murphy 46′), Trialist (Rogers 46′).
Subs not used: