Miserable opening day for Saints

Dorchester Town 3 St Albans City 0 City started their Blue Square South campaign in disappointing fashion on Saturday as they went down to a 3-0 defeat at Dorchester Town. To make matters worse for Saints boss Steve Castle, left back Adam Everitt was sh

Dorchester Town 3 St Albans City 0

City started their Blue Square South campaign in disappointing fashion on Saturday as they went down to a 3-0 defeat at Dorchester Town.

To make matters worse for Saints boss Steve Castle, left back Adam Everitt was shown a straight red card for an x-rated tackle on Magpies danger-man Ivan Forbes, who ran rings around City's defence all afternoon scoring two sweet strikes.

Judging by this display, Castle is going to have his work cut out replicating last season's mid-table finish as Dorchester cruised to an easy victory.

St Albans looked comfortable for the first 25 minutes, however, with the midfield trio of James Fisher, Soloman Shields and Luke Thurlbourne dominating proceedings.

But City looked toothless in attack and once the Magpies started to take more risks going forward then the goals soon followed.

There was more than a hint of controversy when Forbes opened the scoring as the Saints back four looked for an offside flag that never came when Phil Walsh was played in down the left.

But while the Saints dawdled, Walsh played the ball across to Forbes, who made no mistake.

St Albans dropped deeper and deeper as the game wore on allowing Dorchester to attack in greater numbers and it came as no surprise when Neil Martin doubled the home side's advantage.

Tom Mitchell found some space before unleashing a low drive that Martin managed to turn home to mark his debut for the Magpies with a goal.

St Albans decided to make it a damage limitation exercise from then on although Walsh twice evaded the attentions of the City defenders but his finishing left a little to be desired.

But the third goal did finally arrive when Forbes dispossessed Frater before scuffing a shot past Paul Bastock.

Everitt's frustrations boiled over late on when Forbes tricked his way past him before the defender launched a terrible two-footed challenge on the Portuguese winger.

The referee had no hesitation in sending Everitt for an early bath to complete a miserable day for the Saints.

Dorchester Town: Northmore, Jermyn, Smeeton, Mitchell, Bowles, Hill, Martin, Gleeson, Moss (Groves 75), Walsh, Forbes. Subs not used: Vickers, Montacute, Flood, Coward.

St Albans City: Bastock, Bailey, Everitt, Thurlbourne, Mitchell (Quilter 60), Frater, Shields, Fisher, Cohen, O'Donoghue (Chillingworth 55),Green (Roberts 44). Subs not used: Thurlbourne, Quinton.

Referee: Andy Newell (Bristol).

Attendance: 450.