WINCHESTER CITY U23 1

DORCHESTER TOWN U23 1

Magpies win 7-6 on penalties

DORCHESTER Town Under-23s held their nerve in a tense penalty shootout to reach the Hampshire Combination League Challenge Cup final.

Goalkeeper Cameron Pike was the hero for Brian Churchill's Magpies, saving two consecutive penalties at the sudden death stage to book a spot in the showpiece event.

It means Dorchester will face Gosport Borough, date and venue to be confirmed, in the final.

Dorchester had previously beaten Hamble Club, Bashley and Hamworthy United to reach the semi-finals and went into the lead in the 34th minute when Josh Phillips fired home from inside the box.

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Winchester, who fielded former Dorchester first-teamers Ollie Griggs and Ollie Balmer, mixed things up for the second half and their equaliser came from substitute Rex Vaughan, who beat Pike in the 68th minute.

Neither side could force a winner in normal time and penalties were required.

In a high-quality shootout, the sides recorded a perfect run of six penalties each.

Dorchester were on the brink of an exit after seeing their seventh penalty saved but Pike produced the goods to force another round.

Dorchester bagged their eighth spot-kick and Pike once more kept out the Citizens to send his side through.

Churchill told Echosport: "That win continued the under-23s' unbeaten run in league and cup in 2022.

"There is a real togetherness in the under-23s' squad and that winning attitude has been clear to see.

"Coupled with the pathway to the first team which has seen George Calverley, Ben Symes, Ash Guppy, Connor Callow and Josh Baxter all involved gaining Southern League experience, the future is looking good."

Dorchester Under-23s travel to Bemerton in league action on Wednesday (7.45pm).