CHRISTCHURCH 2

DORCHESTER TOWN 1

DORCHESTER Town were knocked out of the FA Cup first qualifying round as a determined Christchurch secured a shock yet deserved 2-1 victory at Hurn Bridge.

Two leagues separated the Priory from their Southern League opponents, and the gap was barely noticeable – even after Tom Blair’s scything run and shot put the visitors 1-0 up.

Christchurch equalised with a scrappy own goal for the second before Harvey Wright lashed home in the 90th minute to upset the odds and equal their best ever result in the FA Cup.

It came against a full-strength Magpies, who made one change from their 3-1 defeat to Weston-super-Mare on Saturday.

Ashley Wells came in for his first start since joining the Magpies for a second spell.

He replaced winger Sam Bayston with manager Leigh Robinson appearing to keep faith in a 5-3-2 formation, morphing into a 3-5-2 in attack.

New signings Leighton Thomas and Joel Kiwobo were named on a six-man bench.

Fresh from an impressive 3-0 win over much-fancied Horndean in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division, it was no surprise when the hosts came out all guns blazing.

The Priory won two early corners which Dorchester cleared, the second of which crucially ended up at Blair’s feet.

Dorchester’s talisman sprinted down the right in a scorching counter and fired home to give Robinson’s men an eighth-minute lead.

With a bobbly pitch hindering play, neither team looked fluent and there was genuine concern for Dorchester left-back Tiago Sa, who was thankfully able to continue after landing awkwardly.

Dorchester’s Will Buse nearly suffered a repeat of Weston’s first goal on Saturday but striker Max Wilcock could not control his pass out.

Christchurch earned some joy from long balls and, after a good header behind from Josiah Dunstan, the corner caused commotion in the Magpies’ box, which was eventually cleared.

Four minutes after half-time, Christchurch levelled when Buse dropped Wilcock’s corner, leading to a melee from which Dorchester bundled into their own net.

Moments later Christchurch whistled an effort past Buse’s upright and the visitors could only reply when Sam Poole nodded a free header off target.

Robinson introduced strikers Tom Bath and Emile Ngoy for Rubin Wilson and Dunstan and created the next chance as Franklyn Clarke saw his half-volley saved by Lewis Gunstone-Gray.

But Christchurch caused a big shock when Wright slammed past Buse in the 90th minute to deal the Magpies an embarrassing blow.

Christchurch: Gunstone-Gray, B Cherrett, Ohameje, Frost, Walker, Wright, Satterley, Swann, Pope, Wilcock, Kirkham, Buck. 

Subs: Finch, Hill, Stone, Fletcher, Johnstone, Frampton

Magpies: Buse, Hanger, Sa, Dunstan (Bath 64), Poole, Madden, Wells, Lowes (Bayston 79), Wilson (Ngoy 64), Clarke, Blair.

Subs not used: Hodges, Thomas, Kiwobo.

Referee: Sam Jenkins

Attendance: 300