DORCHESTER TOWN UNDER-23S 1

Lee 75

WEYMOUTH U23S 3

Rossiter 73, 85, Pollard 90

WEYMOUTH Under-23s beat nearest rivals Dorchester Town Under-23s 3-1 at the Avenue Stadium to progress from the Challenge Cup second round.

Elliot Rossiter’s brace, either side of Cohen Lee’s arcing leveller, twice gave Weymouth the lead before Kelson Pollard poked home in the 90th minute to make sure of the victory.

Earlier, Weymouth had threatened inside three minutes when neat interplay between Keelan O’Connell and Ezio Touray unlocked the Dorchester defence, only for Alfie Rogers to make a brave save at the feet of Touray.

In response, Dorchester somehow did not score with their first two chances of note, Jonny Efedje blazing over when clean through and Terras’ goalkeeper Callum Smalley making a last-ditch scoop off the line to deny Efedje a second time.

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Back came Weymouth with two quickfire openings of their own, Charlie Pitt’s 25-yard volley forcing a fumble from Rogers and Touray then rippling the side netting from a tight angle.

Weymouth centre-back Mahamadou Keita blasted a stinging 35-yard try that Rogers again spilled but the keeper was able to collect safely.

However, the best chance of the half fell to Touray who chested down in oceans of space 12 yards out and somehow slices his volley over.

Dorchester first-teamer Luke Roberts completed another 45 minutes on his comeback trail but poor finishing from both sides continued in the second half as Dorchester’s Levi Middlewick saw a glorious chance blocked on the line before Efedje skewed an attempted lob.

Weymouth replied when a Pitt curler lacked power and was gathered by Rogers, before Terras’ sub Pollard skinned his man and placed a dipping shot inches over the far angle.

Dorchester’s next big chance fell to Joe Malpas who skied a poor effort over, while Harvey Hughes sent a powerful free-kick over on 68 minutes.

While quality was low, the game suddenly opened up with a mistake as Weymouth sub Rossiter pounced on a tame backpass and rounded Rogers to score.

But Weymouth were ahead for only two minutes as Dorchester sub Lee’s looping effort caught out Smalley, slamming in off the far post for 1-1.

Touray was later sin-binned for dissent but Weymouth went ahead for a second time with 10 men.

Rossiter again came up with the goods, this time from an O’Connell corner, twisting to head home into the top-right corner on 85 minutes.

And Pollard used his pace to confirm safe passage into the next round, prodding past Rogers from a long pass to condemn the Magpies to a home exit.

Adding insult to injury, Joe Smith then saw red after the final whistle when late words were exchanged with the referee.

Magpies: Rogers, Middlewick, Hughes, Toms, Malpas, Elwick, Roberts, Frempong, Reeks, Efedje, J Smith. Subs: Lee, T Diaz, Glanfield, Leake, M Smith.

Terras: Smalley, Armstrong, Heaton, Andrews, Small, Keita, O’Connell, Pitt, Touray, Bent, Wragg. Subs: Ricketts, Warwick, McGivney, Pollard, Rossiter.