Dorchester Town 1 Truro City 2 (R.I.P. Alex Legge)

Dorchester Town are without a win in six games after an emotional night at the Avenue Stadium. It was announced before Tuesday night’s game against Truro City that Magpies kit man Alex Legge had passed away suddenly at the age of 38. The news had obviously put the Magpies’ struggles into perspective as the club and Alex’s family come to terms with what has happened. A minute’s silence was impeccably respected before the game, while fans chanted Alex’s name throughout the contest and at the final whistle. “It was devastating for us” explained Magpies caretaker manager Stuart Heath. “Our thoughts at the moment are really only with Alex’s family. He wasn’t just our kit man – he was a friend to a lot of us. He was one of those rare human beings that everyone who came into contact with him had good things to say about him. “When things like that happen to someone as popular and as honest as Alex, life doesn’t seem fair. It certainly puts football in perspective. I asked the players to play well for Alex and I think they did that the best they could.” In an uneventful first half, Ben Watson went closest for the visitors as his low drive rebounded back off the post. Dorchester started the second half well and were unlucky not to score when Sam Lanahan’s drilled shot was tipped over the bar by Kyle Moore after the Truro defence failed to deal with Dan Cann’s long throw. But Truro did break the deadlock on 71 minutes when Craig Duff headed home Barry Hayles’ cross – taking the wind out of Dorchester’s sails. It got worse for the Magpies 11 minutes later when Jake Smeeton was shown a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Cody Cooke. Moments later, Hayles should have put the result beyond doubt when he lofted the ball over Alan Walker-Harris – but Callum Buckley’s brave goal-line clearance denied the former Fulham striker. Truro secured victory six minutes from time when Cooke’s bobbled volley was out of Walker-Harris’ reach and rolled into the corner of the net. Dorchester did pull a goal back in stoppage time when Moore failed to keep hold of Magpies substitute Nick Crittenden’s cross and the ball bounced off his foot and into the net. Heath admitted that several players returning to the Magpies squad from injury were not fully fit, but he was delighted that Ben Joyce was able to last 90 minutes. “The squad is not fully fit at the moment and I think that shows” he said. “The players tried their best and that’s all I asked of them. “We’ve got to go to Yate on Saturday and we’ve got to do Alex proud. We want the players to get their heads together over the next couple of days and get some decent rest and go to Yate and put in a performance and get a result that Alex really would be proud of.” Read more at http://www.blackmorevale.co.uk/Dorchester-Town-caretaker-boss-pays-tribute/story-22903418-detail/story.html#R6UuvcDdCGhacvl9.99