Maidenhead United’s brief revival faltered at Dorchester on Saturday as one of the league’s leakiest defences lived up to its reputation.
Despite caretaker manager Richie Goddard foregoing the 4-4-2 formation of the two previous matches in favour of the more defensive 5-3-2, United still conceded four times in a disappointing display.
Jamie Cook missed the game after a knock which he picked up on Tuesday night, and Lawrence Yaku was also absent from the starting line-up after arriving late.
His place was taken by Luke Townsend, an 18-year-old striker on loan from the QPR Academy. Bryan Smith and Kelvin McIntosh returned from injury, while the suspended Craig O’Connor watched from the stands.
Maidenhead had more than their fair share of possession but it was Dorchester who created the lion’s share of scoring opportunities.
The first 20 minutes saw the home team on top with some great wing play from Spaniard Diego Andrade leading to a couple of great balls into the box which were too good for both forwards and backs.
The inevitable goal came on 18 minutes when Mel Capleton saved well at the feet of Justin Keeler only for the ball to run free to Groves who completed the simple task of putting the ball into an empty net.
United fought back well to equalise when Luke Townsend produced the perfect cross from the left wing which Simon Patterson converted from six yards.
Town regained the lead before the break when a free-kick from the left wing Andrade floated over to the far post where Jermyn nodded in from close in.
The game shifted completely in the home team’s favour when shortly after the restart Jermyn again headed in from the far post, this time from a Keeler corner.
Luke Townsend and Yaku both went close in a vain attempt by United to get back into the game, before Groves made sure the fat lady could start singing early when he tapped in a loose ball after Gareth Keeping’s shot was blocked by keeper Capleton.
Groves then had ample opportunities to increase the score but was denied by a brave performance from Capleton despite his mobility being impaired by a leg injury.
In the dying minutes Patterson neatly rounded things up to the power of two when his shot trickled over the line following a goalmouth scramble.