Image: Michelle Carr
Match Report: Dave Ring
Dorchester Town 1 (5) V Portland United 1 (4)
Dorchester Town win 5–4 on penalties
Dorset Senior Cup Semi-Final
The Avenue Stadium
Tuesday 27 January – 7:45pm
Following a waterlogged pitch at the Camp & Satherley Stadium, a late reversal of the fixture was agreed to ensure the Dorset Senior Cup semi-final could go ahead, with Dorchester Town hosting the tie on their 3G surface at The Avenue Stadium. Given the appalling weather in the lead-up, credit must go to Dorchester for agreeing to the switch and allowing the match to be played.
Both sides came into the contest full of confidence. The Magpies were buoyed by a dramatic 4–3 win over Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday, their first victory since early December, while Portland arrived in strong form, sitting fourth in the Wessex Premier League and firmly in the play-off picture. All the signs pointed to an entertaining evening, and the crowd was not disappointed.
The opening exchanges saw the game swing from end to end, with both teams probing but finding two well-organised defences hard to break down. On 29 minutes, Portland goalkeeper Harry Folden produced an excellent save to deny Dorchester and keep the score level.
Dorchester eventually made the breakthrough on 37 minutes when Matt Buse struck a fine long-range effort into the bottom corner to give the hosts a 1–0 lead. Portland continued to battle and finished the half strongly, but Dorchester went into the interval with the advantage.
The second half began much like the first, competitive and evenly matched. On 50 minutes, Greg Borthwick came close for the Blues with a powerful long-range effort that flew just over the crossbar. Portland continued to press, and on 67 minutes a driving run from Callum Corbridge led to a shot from Pat Jenkins, earning a corner that ultimately came to nothing.
Manager Kyle Critchell then looked to his bench, introducing Ben Morris in place of the tireless Jamie Cleaver, a change that would soon prove decisive. Portland were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Dorchester penalty area after Borthwick was fouled. Pat Jenkins’ effort was spilled by the goalkeeper, and Morris reacted quickest to bundle the loose ball home and level the score at 1–1.
The equaliser lifted the Blues, who grew in confidence as the match entered its final stages. With ten minutes remaining, some excellent interplay between Josh Williams and Jenkins ended with Jenkins firing narrowly over the bar.
Drama followed on 82 minutes when Dorchester were awarded a penalty. Folden, however, produced a superb save, diving low to his right to keep Portland level and take the tie to a penalty shootout.
From the spot, Dorchester held their nerve, converting all five of their penalties, while Portland scored four. That narrow margin sent the Magpies through to face Weymouth FC in the final.
Despite the disappointment of defeat, it was a tremendous performance from Portland United. For any neutral in attendance, it would have been impossible to tell that Dorchester Town compete two leagues above the Blues.
Final Score: Dorchester Town 1, Portland United 1
Dorchester Town win 5–4 on penalties
Dorchester Town: Phillips, Dickson, Turner, Spetch (C), Hutchinson, Topley, Buse, Wooding, Underhill, Smith, Parker
Substitutes: Stanley, Redknapp, Whitfield, Coat, Daws
Portland United: Foden, Coombs, Stuttle, Cleaver, Gadsby, Corbridge, Camp, Williams (C), Borthwick, Jenkins, Woolford
Substitutes: Scott, Norman, Joyce, Morris, Symes
