CIRENCESTER TOWN 3

Jones 34, Kotwica 65, Henry 84

DORCHESTER TOWN 1

Oldring 12

IT could have been Dorchester heading to Weymouth but, in reality, it is Petersfield against Cirencester in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.

After a bright opening at the Corinium Stadium, Mark Jermyn’s men fell agonisingly short and were reduced to 10 men for the second game in a row when Nathan Walker was sent off 10 minutes from time.

Despite being given his marching orders when the sides battled out a 1-1 draw to set up the replay, young striker Ayunga kept his place in the county town club’s starting XI against the Centurions, as both sides were unchanged from the weekend’s clash.

That meant that, for the visitors, there was still no place for key defender Chris Dillon, who continued to nurse a groin injury.

And, after what was a frantic start from both sides, Dorchester gained an early lead through defender Matt Oldring.

A deep free-kick from Walker saw the ball won by Ayunga, and although Cirencester had the chance to clear their lines, Oldring was on hand to fire home and give player-manager Mark Jermyn’s charges the advantage.

Striker Griffin then hit a shot just wide of the mark as the home side looked for an immediate reply.

But, at the other end, the Magpies looked to build on their positive start through Ayunga. He saw an effort blocked and put another just over the bar within moments of each other, as the county town club signalled their intent to look for a second.

A slick breakaway from the visitors then meant Cirencester keeper Glyn Garner was called into action to make a point-blank save.

Controversy ensued just past the half hour as Ross Langworthy looked to loft the ball over Alan Walker-Harris in the Dorchester goal, an effort that may well have found the net.

But Walker-Harris escaped with a caution even though he was adjudged to have handled the ball outside of his area.

Soon after that moment however, Dorchester lapsed from a set-piece, and Gethin Jones rose to head home from a corner to level things up.

Magpies’ midfielder Lewis Morgan then entered the book soon after heading straight at Garner and Centurions’ Aidan Bennett flashed the ball just wide as an entertaining opening 45 minutes drew to a close.

Following the break the hosts came out strongly as Ian Herring saw his effort at goal stabbed off the line after Dorchester had half-cleared a free-kick.

Bradley Tarbuck then went close for the away side with an effort that found the side-netting, but on 65 minutes, Jermyn’s men fell behind.

After some neat build-up by Langworthy and Bennett, Zak Kotwica, only five minutes after coming on as a substitute, provided a calm finish to make it 2-1 and put the Centurions in control.

Now, with the tie to chase, Ayunga drove at goal and steered just wide of a post. Dorchester then introduced Nick Crittenden in place of Oakley Hanger in a bid to freshen things up.

But, with Walker now operating up front, he was given his marching orders 10 minutes from time for a foul on Cirencester skipper Leigh Henry.

And it was Henry who had the last laugh on the night as he powered a bullet header into the net with six minutes to go condemning the Magpies to a 3-1 defeat.

Cirencester: Garner, Jones (Kotwica 60), Pritchett, Brown, Hooper (Knight 87), Henry, Herring, Mortimer-Jones, Griffin, Langworthy, Bennett (Parsons 76). Subs not used: Dunton

Magpies: Walker-Harris, Hanger (Crittenden 75), Smeeton, Jermyn, Oldring, Walker, Davis, Morgan (Martin 51), Ayunga, Watson, Tarbuck. Subs not used: Brookes, Ross, Murphy

Referee: Christopher Smith