Ryan Moss' 57th-minute strike proved decisive, but Gosport could hold their heads high after their battling performance against their higher-ranked hosts.

'We weren't overawed and I felt we competed with them all game,' said delighted Boro boss Alex Pike.

'It wasn't a case of Dorchester playing poorly either, and it shows the potential we have in this team.

'We gave it a real good go.

'If we can play like that week in, week out then we shall soon be flying up our league.

'Their goal was unfortunate because we were attacking and felt that Justin Bennett had been fouled.

'We stopped and they raced up the other end to score, so we have to learn from that.

'In the closing stages we went to just three at the back in a bid to get back in it and it almost worked.'

The Southern League outfit kept Dorchester at bay in a quiet first half and their best chance came when Bennett latched on to Michael Birmingham's pass, only to fire over the top.

Lee Chudy also forced a near-post save from home goalkeeper Gareth Stewart before the interval.

Moss' precise finish put the Dorset side in the driving seat but Pike's men almost forced a replay in stoppage-time through new signing Vince Rusher.

Rusher, whose transfer from Andover only went through at the last minute following the intervention of the Football Association, was put clean through by James Ford.

But as the striker looked to pull the trigger, home defender Mark Jermyn got back to make a timely interception.