WELLSY’S XI 6
Yetton 6, Ford 28, 40, 45 pen, Mutch 50, McQuoid 88
DORCHESTER LEGENDS 5
Nicholls 37, Lowes 60, 74, da Silva 64, Watson 76
ASHLEY Wells was handed a thrilling testimonial send-off as his Wellsy XI edged Dorchester Legends 6-5 at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
Weymouth began with authority in possession and it took just six minutes for them to open the scoring, Stewart Yetton rolling back the years to squeeze a finish home at the near post from Josh McQuoid’s through ball.
At the other end, Oakley Hanger’s cross was smothered by Jason Matthews but Weymouth soon charged upfield and forced Shane Murphy into a flying tip-over save from Jake McCarthy’s swerving 20-yarder.
In an open game, McCarthy headed over for Wellsy’s XI and Sam Lanahan blazed over from 20 yards for Dorchester as the chances flowed.
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Ben Watson then worked Matthews from a tight angle but it would be Weymouth who scored next, Mark Ford showing the Dorchester defence a clean pair of heels before rounding Murphy to score.
Ford’s goal was the first in a 17-minute hat-trick for the current Blandford striker-come-keeper, not before Dorchester halved the deficit.
The Magpies picked out Neil Martin in space on the left and although Weymouth covered off his cross, Ben Watson the intended recipient, Ashley Nicholls drilled a sweet shot beyond Matthews from the rebound.
Weymouth lost their two-goal cushion for just three minutes as McCarthy’s beautiful dink into the area connected with Ford who once more rounded Murphy to score.
Murphy was overworked before the break, producing reaction saves from Ford and Ollie Harfield, but the keeper was culpable for the fourth when he brought down Yetton in the box for a penalty.
Up stepped Ford to slam down the middle for his hat-trick in the last action of the half.
Weymouth rung the changes at the break and sub Carl Mutch grabbed a piece of the action on 50 minutes, tucking home an accomplished finish into the far corner from McQuoid’s lay-off.
However, Dorchester then roared back with four goals in the space of 26 minutes.
They were inspired by the industry and much-needed energy of sub Billy Lowes in the engine room, the former Weymouth man touching home from a right-wing cross on the hour.
Thiago Caze da Silva then became the second Magpie to score against his former club, finding a finish from a corner that Weymouth nearly managed to scramble clear from the goalline.
With Weymouth quickly fading, Hanger smashed an effort into the side-netting and Lowes rifled into the stands as Dorchester sensed more goals.
They duly notched a fourth when some gorgeous approach play ended with Nathan Walker laying off to Lowes who coolly rolled home his second on 74 minutes.
And the remarkable comeback was completed two minutes later when Watson hammered a fine effort past Matthews from inside the box.
Dorchester threatened a winner when Watson’s toe-poke struck the post five minutes from time but instead it was Weymouth who stole the glory.
McQuoid twisted and turned in the area to engineer space for a shot and his effort was as crisp as they come, sailing past Murphy for the game’s 11th goal.
Wells, nursing a heavily-bandaged knee, did not make it onto the pitch but the all-star line-up on both teams gave him a memorable send-off in front of 405 fans.
Wellsy’s XI: Matthews, Baldwin (Cooper 46), McPhee (Skinner 59), Copp, Brooks, McQuoid (Benfield 59), McCarthy, Davis (Wakefield 52), Harfield, Yetton (Mutch 46), Ford (Odubade 46). Sub not used: Wells.
Dorchester Legends: Murphy, Hanger, Smeeton, Martin (Crittenden 72), Jermyn, Walker, Nicholls, Gleeson (da Silva 55), Groves (Lowes 55), Lanahan (Critchell 55), Watson.
Attendance: 405
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