VERWOOD TOWN 2

Lynch 30, 84

DORCHESTER TOWN 7

Jermyn 18, Moss 28, 31, 63, Nodwell 40, Groves 55, Montacute 83

MANAGER Roy O’Brien was delighted with his mixed-strength Dorchester Town side after they proved far too strong for Wessex League First Division outfit Verwood Town at Potterne Park last night.

Ryan Moss helped himself to a hat-trick, while Mark Jermyn, Harry Nodwell, Matt Groves and Harry Montacute also found the target.

Verwood tested rookie keeper Sam Filkins on a couple of occasions while Chris Lynch bagged a brace, but otherwise it was all Dorchester.

“The lads applied themselves very well, right from the first team lads to the under-18 lads and they all did very well,” said O’Brien, who saw his team’s extra quality shine through.

“We had Matt Groves and Ryan Moss playing and they put a good shift of work in, as well as Tom Mitchell and Harry Nodwell in the middle of the park. Nodwell did very well and was quite tenacious.”

The lively Moss produced the first shot, firing over in the fourth minute before Filkins had to beat away an effort from Dean Evans at the other end.

But Dorchester opened the scoring on 18 minutes when Moss flicked into the path of Jermyn, who fired low into the bottom corner from six yards.

Verwood keeper Chris Willis raced out to deny Groves and came close to preventing Dorchester’s second goal on 28 minutes when Jermyn played in Moss, but the ball ricocheted off the keeper back for Moss to prod into an empty net.

Verwood were given hope when Paul Arnold’s cross was met by Chris Lynch, who looped an inch-perfect header over Filkins into the far top corner.

But the Magpies restored their two-goal advantage within a minute when Jer-myn’s free-kick on the right was nodded down by Gary Bowles to Moss, who scored with an overhead kick one yard from goal.

Arnold had a firm drive beaten down by Filkins before Dorchester extended their lead on 40 minutes when Moss laid off a Jermyn cross for Harry Nodwell to drive home from 18 yards.

Moss was denied his hat-trick by a goal- line clearance from Lynch but Groves added the fifth goal 10 minutes after the break when he set Dan Spencer away on a left-wing break then raced forward to drill in from 10 yards after Jermyn chested down Spencer’s cross.

A determined Moss bowed out of the game in the 65th minute to be replaced by Neil Kellaway, but not before completing his hat-trick, sweeping home a pass from Groves.

Bowles saw a powerful header tipped over by Willis, who was then powerless to prevent a seventh goal after Harry Montacute played a one-two with Groves before firing in an unstoppable low shot from 18 yards.

Lynch pulled a goal back for Verwood, stabbing home from close range, but Dorchester had long since won the tie.

Verwood: Willis, Elysee, Evans, Jamison, Lynch, Faulkner, Goodall, Arnold, Baguley (Mills 79), Kelly (Newbury 46), Dyer (Murray 73). Subs not used: Nowkes, Fawcett.

Magpies: Filkins 7, Montacute 7, Spencer 7, Nodwell 8, Bowles 7, Barnes 7 (Coombes 77, 6), Jermyn 9 (Fellows 77, 6), Mitchell 7, Moss 9 (Kellaway 65, 6), Groves 8, Taylor 7. Subs not used: Selley, Trevett.

Attendance: 142 n The Magpies’ reward for thrashing Verwood is a home tie against Wessex League Premier Division side Wimborne Town in the quarter- finals.

Weymouth, who beat Poole 3-1 on Tuesday, will travel to Chickerell United or Gillingham Town, who play on Saturday.

Dates of these matches are yet to be arranged.