The Magpies crashed out of the Dorset Senior Cup in the most agonising of ways as they lost 4-2 on penalties to a resilient Sturminster Newton side.
Neither side could break the deadlock in normal time with the 90 minutes ending 0-0, and Dorch were left to rue multiple missed chances as a combination of wayward finishing, the frame of the goal, and Stur goalkeeper Theo Crane kept them at bay.
Six changes were made to the side who played out a pulsating 2-2 against Merthyr on Saturday as Noah Crisp started in goal, with Ollie Haste, Marcus Daws, Brendan Holmes, Kyran Samadi, and skipper for the night Wes Fogden all coming in. Under 23 players Jensen Doerr, Aaron Matthews and Connor Ford were all named on the bench.
Dorch started the game brightly as Olaf Koszela firstly fired wide from range before hitting the crossbar, both inside the first 15 minutes. A succession of early corners saw Crane's goal put under serious pressure, with Tom Bragg seeing his header deflected wide, but Stur almost took the lead from a corner of their own as a backpedaling Crisp was forced to palm clear a dangerous in-swinger from under his own bar. Samadi was having joy running at the very deep lying Stur defence, with one of his mazy dribbles only thwarted by an alert Crane. And moments later, Crane could only look on as Luke Roberts shot past him after he was played though on goal, the away goaltender's expression turning to relief as Roberts' strike rolled agonisingly wide of the post.
As the half entered its final five minutes, Dorch saw two more good chances go begging. Firstly, a move that must have had somewhere in the region of 40 passes eventually saw Roberts played in again, but his effort struck the face of the bar via the fingertips of Crane. And as injury time approached, Roberts’ shot from distance was parried by Crane into the path of Koszela, but his follow up was blocked. The score remained 0-0 at halftime.
The second half started much as the first ended as Daws saw an effort saved with Koszela's effort on the rebound going wide, but Stur did issue a reminder of the threat they possessed as a rash challenge by Buse saw the visitors awarded a freekick on the edge of the box. Buse earned himself a yellow card, with Crisp saving the shot from the resulting freekick. Samadi once again was having joy when running at the Stur defence, his meandering run leaving 5 players beaten, but a last-ditch block meant he got no further. Jack Dickson and Luke Pardoe were introduced for Daws and Roberts as Tommy Killick's side pushed for the opener, but despite enjoying nearly 75% of the possession, the goal remained elusive. As the game entered the final ten minutes there were more chances as both Fodgen, and then a follow up from Koszela were saved, Bragg and Buse both shot wide, and Bragg thundered an effort off the face of the post following another series of corners. But despite living a charmed life, the Stur defence led by a towering performance from defender Billy Bright stood firm, the final whistle signifying penalties, which following the coin toss were to be taken at the Bypass End.
Koszela stepped up first to score, with Stur following suit to level moments later. Dickson scored the Magpies’ second spot kick with Stur responding in kind to level at 2-2, but from here, things took a serious downturn for the home side. Fogden saw his effort saved by Crane away to his left, and when Stur converted to go 3-2 up, there was some pressure on Bragg. Bragg's penalty was well struck but was met with an even better save by Crane diving away to his right, and moments later the away side secured a famous victory as they converted their fourth spot kick to win the tie 4-2.
The Magpies will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday as Taunton Town visit in the league - you can book your tickets online and save £2 by using the link below.
https://dorchestertownfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets
Starting XI: Crisp; Turner, Bragg, Haste; Daws (Dickson), Buse, Holmes, Samadi; Koszela, Fogden; Roberts (Pardoe). Subs not used: Doerr, Matthews, Ford.
Attendance: 178
Written by: Stuart Voss