Under-15 County Cup Semi-final

POOLE TOWN 1 DORCHESTER TOWN 1

(Dorchester won 4-3 on pens, aet)

DORCHESTER Tigers booked their place in the County Cup final against Division One side Wimborne Town by holding their nerve in a penalty shoot-out at Poole Town.

The Dolphins, who play in the Bournemouth League, had started the game strongly after their forward had applied a cool finish to score after 10 minutes.

After an exciting first half, which saw the home keeper make a superb point-blank save from Dorchester’s Finn Gayton and the outstanding Andrew Ennals saving a penalty, it was surprising only one goal was scored.

In the second half, the Magpies continued to press down the left side through Tom Foyle and Toby Pitman in search of an equaliser and, after a fierce Casey Graham shot was pushed out by the Poole keeper, Cameron Dalgleish was quickest to meet the rebound to make 1-1.

Dorchester continued to press and came close to a decisive goal in normal time but Ben Macklin saw his effort go within inches of the Poole goal.

In extra time, Tigers appeared to be gaining the upper hand with Tom Mead, Culum Joy and man of the match Tom Johnson threatening the Poole goal and, despite an entertaining half hour in which both teams almost scored a memorable winner, the sides could not be separated and had to decide the game from 12 yards.

Confident conversions from Tigers Danny Kelly, Josh Eveleigh, Billy Evans and Gra-ham meant Ennals’ two decisive shoot-out saves sparked gleeful celebrations for the county town side.