DORCHESTER Town’s Ability Counts teams had a day of mixed emotions at Hamworthy’s Specsavers County Ground as one of their two teams entered qualifying for the FA People’s Cup regional round in Bristol.

Dorchester reached the final in St George’s Park last year as the fifth-highest ranked team in the UK. In 2019, only a four-legged tie with Wimborne stood between them and qualification.

Following a tense 0-0 draw in the first game, Dorchester took the lead in the second game as Danny Kiy drilled the ball in from a tight angle.

Bren Butcher added to the lead in the final seconds, controlling before firing the ball into the roof of the net.

The third fixture saw Dorchester a shadow of themselves, conceding a goal following some lackadaisical defending.

Butcher gave Dorchester the lead once again in the final game, but the effort was cancelled out by the resilient Wimborne side.

The county town side kept their heads and kept the ball in the final minutes, to see them win 3-2 on aggregate over the fixtures and qualify for the regional finals for a third successive year.

Dorchester’s league side had to face four different opponents.

Their first was a physically strong Poole Town but Jack Rose continued his form from league games as he fired Dorchester ahead, after Logan Legg found the striker in space.

Poole found an immediate response to tie the game, but the Magpies’ constant pressure paid dividends as Legg guided a shot into the left-hand corner.

Jamie Dixon made it 3-1, curving a free-kick around the wall, and just inside the post.

Another Poole counter saw them capitalise, but Dorchester closed the game out, to win 3-2.

Dorchester then faced league leaders Dexters, and despite long-range efforts from Tom Best, Dorchester conceded despite their pressure when a Dexters’ player was unmarked just outside the area, which proved crucial as the game finished 1-0 to Dexters.

The loss rocked the Magpies who needed to win their final games, starting with Wimborne.

Legg had caused problems for Wimborne with his skill but he could only hit the post.

Dorchester’s attacking approach paid off, however, as they were awarded a penalty, which Rose converted for a 1-0 victory.

The final fixture saw the Magpies face an in-form Parley Sports.

Legg bagged his second goal of the tournament following a decisive dribble through the side, finished off with a well-placed shot, leaving the goalkeeper helpless.

A tidy set-piece, where Best had laid the ball to Legg, almost saw him bag his brace but the post once again denied the attacker.

Legg then turned provider, finding striker Leon Richer who struck the ball low to double the Magpies lead.

The final score saw Dorchester run out 2-0 winners, but they failed to advance to the next round via goal difference, with Dexters topping the table.

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