1 week Ago
With last week’s 3-3 draw at Gloucester dropping Dorchester out of the play-off zone, Killick’s men regained fifth spot after Havant’s 1-1 draw at Taunton. Dorchester top scorer Olaf Koszela showed his lethal instinct in black and white, lashing home a 60th-minute penalty given for handball in the area, to end Walton’s 16-game unbeaten run. It means Dorchester can now decide their own fate, knowing victories over Frome, Poole and Hungerford during the run-in will seal the all-important fifth place.
With everything at stake, Killick underlined his satisfaction with Dorchester’s display against a side previously unbeaten this calendar year. “I’m just so pleased, it was probably one of our best performances of the season,” he told BBC Radio Solent. “Not in terms of how the game played out in terms of a spectacle and excitement, but what the players had to do to restrict Walton, who are such a good side.
“The work we had to do out of possession, the concentration we had to have, the physicality, it was a monumental effort. “It was always going to be that one little thing in it and the game was very even. We did have slightly the better chances.
“Thankfully, we just managed to get on the right side of it. The reason it’s such a good performance is because of the calibre of the opposition. “I’ve just got so much respect for them, you know what they’re going to do and how they’re going to play, but stopping it is very difficult.
“They’ve got really good technical players all over the pitch. Just amazing levels from our players.” Killick also praised Koszela’s composure as he scored the winning goal.
“Nerves of steel in that situation,” the former Poole boss remarked. “You just have a real confidence that that’s going to be the outcome when he steps up. “I didn’t think it was his greatest game but suddenly he’s got a penalty to take in a highly pressured moment, such a significant moment in terms of the season.
“To smash it home in nerveless fashion shows what he’s all about.” On the play-off race, with only three games remaining, Killick added: “It’s in our hands. “If we win all three, we’ll be in the play-offs.
“When you look at the run of fixtures, away to Totton, Gloucester and home to Walton we’ve picked up five points. We’ve been the better side in all three. “Certainly, last week we should’ve won.
It just shows anyone that doubts us, look at those fixtures and performances in terms of how we’ve acquitted ourselves. “To me, it shows the levels we’re capable of and we just have to keep reinforcing them and showing people week-in and week-out.” In Dorchester’s defence, there was a commanding performance by Will Spetch who executed perfectly the job of keeping Walton’s star striker Dawid Rogalski quiet.
Spetch’s positioning to clear Swans’ crosses at will was also noteworthy in a stellar show from the experienced centre-half. Killick told Echosport: “Because of how we pressed, they started even in the first half to hit balls from the goalkeeper into the centre-forward and Spetchy was winning every header. “Second half, they cleared out the central area and were dropping things into him.
Spetchy did enough physically to mean he wasn’t getting hold of the ball. “I’ve known Spetchy a long time. It’s not just what he does on the field, it’s his personality, what he brings to the club, the respect and affection everyone has for him.
“Will is an absolute leader of men.” Dorchester next travel to Frome on Good Friday before hosting Poole on Easter Monday (both 3pm)..
