The Late Show

Club captain Gary Connolly was Kings’ saviour as he came off the bench to secure the
narrowest of victories and keep the play-off aspirations alive. With news of rivals Poole
Town’s win at Metropolitan Police already coming through, Kings were running out of time as
fellow substitute Lewis Putman began a powerful run down the left flank before putting in a
fierce, low cross that was met with a first time strike on the far post by the incoming Connolly,
beating Kingsley Latham and sending the home contingent into ecstasy.
Langley had again started ponderously and the first fifteen minutes belonged to Dorchester in
terms of possession, before a shrewd Mitchell Weiss through ball created a chance for Rene
Howe, but the striker couldn’t sort his feet out and the opportunity disappeared. The Magpies
began to look more threatening and Alex Tokarczyk held a Tom Blair shot, before needing two
bites of the cherry to deny Billy Lowes’ rising shot. Kings finally responded on the cusp of half
time when Mitchell Weiss’ thunderous shot cannoned back off the crossbar after a Stevie Ward
pull back, but the resumption saw Town again on the front foot with Blair putting a low shot just
wide. But almost imperceptibly Kings were changing the balance of the game with Mitchell
Weiss robbing a tiring defence to shoot from the tightest of angles into the side netting and a
wayward defensive header by Nathan Walker calling Latham into action for a spectacular tipover.
The game was finally coming to life and the Magpies fought back with Ben Seymour’s snap
shot just held by Tokarczyk, before the big keeper made a superb save from an Aaron
Rodriguez rocket. At the other end, the newly introduced Lewis Putman put over a first time
cross that Rene Howe blazed over the bar, a Callum Adebiyi shot was blocked and Latham
saved well from Ward after the defence again had its pocket picked by the predatory Weiss.
For all the effort, the match entered the four minutes of time added on with the scoreboard still
blank and Kings’ hopes hanging by a thread. But the introduction of Putman was having a
telling effect in terms of crosses and there was a buzz of expectancy as he started the run that
was to be met by Connolly and produce a goal that ensures this tantalising play-off race goes
to the wire.

By Roy Mitchard