DORCHESTER TOWN 2 WIMBORNE TOWN 0

DORCHESTER avenged their FA Trophy defeat to Wimborne earlier this season by seeing off the Cuthbury outfit at the Avenue tonight to book a place in the final of the Dorset Senior Cup.

Ben Watson and Lewis Morgan scored either side of the break to secure victory for Mark Jermyn’s men in a keenly-contested last-four tie.

Home skipper Jake Smeeton tested visiting keeper Jason Harvell with a powerful header as early as the second minute, while Matt Oldring blocked an Anthony Waters effort at the other end.

A slip at the back by Smeeton then nearly proved costly for the hosts on 25 minutes.

His lapse allowed Sam Griffin to cross to an unmarked Mark Gamble but Alan Walker-Harris got down well to save the striker’s header.

Wimborne began to find space in the Dorchester defensive third and they caused problems for the home side again when Waters drove in a cross which couldn’t quite find a team-mate.

The first goal of the semi-final did arrive in the 37th minute.

Morgan ran on to a ball played into the Wimborne box, he then pulled it back for Watson and the striker did the rest with a neat finish.

It could have been 2-0 a minute later, though this time Nathan Walker blasted the ball across the face of goal after striking the outside of the post with a header.

It was a scrappy start to the second half with neither side really dominating proceedings, though the hosts did edge it in terms of territory and possession.

And just before the hour mark they doubled their advantage when the lively Smith surged into the Wimborne penalty area and cut the ball back for Morgan to sweep home.

Steve Cuss’ visitors tried their best to get back into the game.

Luke Holmes fired wide when he might have done better and Billy Maybury stung the palms of Walker-Harris.

Dorchester then had two glorious chances within seconds of each other.

Walker smacked a header against the crossbar and Harvell got just enough on an Oldring shot to divert the ball wide.

Oldring, Walker and substitute Sam Lanahan were denied by Harvell in the closing stages but Dorchester had done enough to take their place in next month’s final.

Dorchester: Walker-Harris, Oldring, Smeeton, Dillon, Gleeson, Morgan (Murray 79), Tarbuck, Brookes (Lanahan 45), Watson (Woodland 82), Walker, Smith. Subs not used: Parrett, Michie.

Wimborne: Harvell, Arnold, Biles (O’Hare 88), Waters (Wilcox 59), Stokoe, Blake (Kellaway 21), Griffin, Clarke, Holmes, Gamble, Maybury. Subs not used: Roast, Field.

Bookings: Dorchester – None

Wimborne – None

Referee: Mark Pottage (Gillingham)