Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland all in FA Cup action

Brooklyn Genesini scored twice as Weymouth beat Shepton Mallett 6-0 in the FA Cup preliminary round <i>(Image: Ian Middlebrook)</i>
Brooklyn Genesini scored twice as Weymouth beat Shepton Mallett 6-0 in the FA Cup preliminary round (Image: Ian Middlebrook)
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Weymouth, Portland United and Dorchester Town will all be on the road as Dorset’s FA Cup hopefuls bid for progress in Saturday’s first qualifying round.

The headline tie sees Weymouth travel to Southern League Premier Division South side Bath City at Twerton Park, where the Terras will attempt to overcome their higher-level opponents and continue their impressive early-season form.

Weymouth booked their place in the first qualifying round emphatically, beating Shepton Mallet 6-0 in the preliminary round thanks to braces from Brooklyn Genesini and Toby Holmes alongside Mitch Beardmore's 35 yard screamer.

The Terras then continued their winning start to the campaign with victories over Melksham Town in the FA Trophy and in the league over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Bath, meanwhile, enter at this stage by virtue of their Step 3 status, making the Somerset trip a significant early-season test for Jamie Wells’ side.

However, Wells will be without Lewis Brown, who was sent off in Saturday’s FA Trophy win against Melksham at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Dorchester are also heading into Devon, taking on Brixham after their 3-1 preliminary-round victory against Winchester City.

Ethan Taylor scored twice for the Magpies in that win, including a stunning free-kick which was picked out as one of the best goals of the round.

The Magpies suffered late heartache against Larkhall Athletic in the FA Trophy last weekend, but returned to winning ways on Monday after beating Hungerford Town 1-0 at home thanks to a solitary strike from the in-form Taylor.

Portland United face an away tie against AFC Portchester, known as the Royals. The Blues reached this stage with a 2-0 victory at Moneyfields in the preliminary round, having opened their FA Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Sturminster Newton United at the Camp & Satherley.

With a place in the second qualifying round at stake, all three clubs will be looking to move one step closer to the first round proper. Winners of this round will receive £2,250 in prize money, while defeated clubs will receive £750.

The FA has scheduled the second qualifying round for Saturday, September 19.

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