Weymouth 3 Cherries 1

So, having beaten Dorchester Town in the previous round, a trip to Weymouth for Semi-final of the Dorset FA Senior Cup was our reward. So with the strongest available squad named by manager Nick Squires, the lads took to the pitch looking hopeful of causing an upset against the National League South club.

Early signs were promising as The Cherries found increasing confidence and started creating a few chances.  It was not until just after the half hour mark that Weymouth got their breakthrough to open the scoring.  Shortly before the break Ashley Clarke had to retire from the match to be replaced by Aaron Lane-Leney.

The second half started with urgency, and barely had the half started when Weymouth scored again with a well taken strike from Theo Crane’s right the looped over his head into the far corner of the goal.
Still not feeling out of it, Stur broke away down the right and thanks to a superb cross, Aaron Lane-Leney met the ball at the far post and slotted it into the back of the net (a tap in?).   So now at 2-1 to the home side the game opened up as both sides tried to gain dominance.  There were chances for both sides, but it felt like Sturminster were creating more as they tried to level up the scores.  

More and more chances were being created by the Cherries, surely one had to go in?  During a period of sustained pressure with around five minutes to play the ball broke to a Weymouth player who put in a “slide rule” pass to the forward who controlled it well and placed the ball accurately into the back of the net.  Crane no chance.  3-1.
The remaining five minutes with the few minutes added were pretty much one way traffic with the away side piling on the pressure with what seemed like corner after corner, but Sturminster Newton United had represented themselves well against higher opposition on the night.
We wish Weymouth well in their final against Hamworthy Rec.

Tonight’s Man of the Match was awarded to Will Guppy.

Thanks to Tolchards who sponsored tonight’s match.