DORCHESTER Sports’ boss Ashley James admitted the 5-0 DPL Supplementary Cup defeat to Hamworthy Rec was “baffling”.

In the two games previous, Sports had beaten established top-three side Westland Sports 2-1 and drawn 3-3 at Ham Rec – despite having only 12 players for a 6.30pm kick-off.

Rec applied for promotion to Step 6 next season.

And Kirk Grice’s team showed why they are considered to be the best Step 7 team in Dorset as a Carl Edwards hat-trick plus Sam Carter and Joe Smith goals put Sports to the sword at the Avenue.

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Speaking to Echosport, James said: “It’s disappointing considering the last two performances have been good.

“We battered them last Tuesday, disappointed we didn’t come back with all three points.

“Then to go and put in a performance like we did on Saturday is a bit baffling.

“If you don’t turn up with the right desire and commitment against Ham Rec they can do that to you. We got taught a lesson.

“It’s a bit of inconsistency. I don’t know if after the two performances in the last two games everyone got ahead of themselves.

“We just didn’t get close to them and if you don’t get close to Ham Rec and put them under pressure, they’ll just pick you off.”

Sports: Fry, Toland, Gosney, Symes, Bessant, Samways (D Peart 55), J Steele, G Will (Anstey 70), Rawlings (Lewis 70), Leake (O Peart 60), Godfrey.