DORCHESTER TOWN U23 3

WEYMOUTH U23 0

DORCHESTER Town Under-23s claimed the bragging rights as the Magpies beat near rivals Weymouth Under-23s 3-0 at the Avenue Stadium.

Dorchester, treble winners last season, fielded only three players from their history-making side with eight changes in all.

Meanwhile, Weymouth boss Craig Adams has also recruited heavily in the summer with a new-look side.

Dorchester, playing their first competitive game of the campaign, had the first chances of the game as Nick Keyamo poked wide and Terras’ keeper Callum Smalley produced a brilliant save to deny Leighton Thomas’ free-kick.

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Weymouth hit back in the 26th minute as Kelson Pollard curled a low 20-yarder inches wide of the right post.

However, the Magpies found the breakthrough in the 38th minute as Joe Smith wriggled his way into space, turning his man, before beating Smalley from six yards.

Dorchester added a second on the counter as Smith shrugged off Dylan Ross on halfway before sprinting in on goal and slotting past Smalley in the 44th minute.

In the second half, Toby Diaz fired a free-kick harmlessly over for Dorchester and Smith missed a tricky chance for his hat-trick under close attention from two defenders.

Weymouth went closer still in the 66th minute when Adam Heaton’s vicious effort was turned away by Sam Duncalf.

Seconds later, Smith passed up another chance for his treble when he darted in from the left and bent a shot wide of the far stick.

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Weymouth flicked into a higher gear during the last 20 minutes as Elliot Rossiter forced a good reflex save from Duncalf.

For all their good work, Weymouth went 3-0 down when Joe Malpas’ long ball found its way to sub Connor Ford, who buried his first Magpies goal.

Weymouth tried to find a consolation but were repelled by the Dorchester defence, featuring two full-backs in the centre, as the Magpies landed the first blow in the clubs’ rivalry this season.

Speaking to Echosport, Dorchester Under-23s manager Brian Churchill said: “The game spoke for itself, a local derby and our first game.

“We gave a really good account of ourselves and laid a benchmark for the rest of the season with that performance.

“The units worked really well, the defence was magnificent. I had to play a right-back at centre-half and another right-back as left centre-half.

“They limited Weymouth to very few chances and we’ve always got the potency of Joe up front that can score goals.

“His goals are coming in twos, so he’s itching to claim a hat-trick but he can be very pleased with that performance.”

Dorchester next visit Gillingham, while Weymouth travel to Laverstock & Ford, both on Thursday, September 7 (7.45pm).

Magpies: Duncalf, Nicholson, Diaz, Malpas, Middlewick, Graziano, Keyamo, M Smith, J Smith, Glanfield, Thomas. Subs: Frimpong, Symes, Leake, Ford, Towers.

Terras: Smalley, Ross, King, Heaton, Small, Laird, Rossiter, Pitt, Bent, Andrews, Pollard. Subs: Butcher, Brumble, Ricketts, McGivney.