SHERBORNE TOWN RES 1
DORCHESTER SPORTS 1
(Sherborne won 5-4 on penalties)
DORCHESTER Sports crashed out of the Dorset Premier League Cup at the first round stage after a 5-4 penalty shoot-out loss at Sherborne Town Reserves.
Sports were in unusually poor form for the first hour as the Zebras took the lead, Jamie Jarman crashing a shot in off the post for 1-0.
The visitors made a triple change to swerve the momentum of the game as Jack Will, Jamie West and the returning Ash Smith came on.
Sports then took control but found an equaliser hard to come by.
READ MORE: Three players exit Dorchester Sports
That was until the 95th minute when Nick Voss pounced on a parry by Zebras’ keeper Sam Hulland following West’s flick-on.
Sports dominated the 30 minutes of extra-time as West was denied twice and Voss also wasted a good chance.
With the tie going to penalties, Sports’ Shaun Bessant missed the second spot-kick while Sherborne were flawless as they edged into the next round.
Dorchester Sports’ boss Ashley James said: “We’re disappointed to go out on penalties. We should’ve won it in extra-time but when it goes to penalties it’s a lottery.
“It was 50/50 throughout the contest and unfortunately we’ve come out on the losing side. It’s one of those nights.”
James’ squad now turn their attention to a tricky trip to Blandford United in the Jewson Dorset Premier League tomorrow (3pm).
The Royals currently sit second but Sports could leapfrog them with victory.
James said: “They’ve had a brilliant start, they’ve played five games away from home – big games they’ve won against top teams.
“This is going to be a difficult game and we could obviously have done without 120 minutes (on Wednesday).
“There’s going to be some very sore legs but we need to dust ourselves off because if we can beat Blandford there’s a big opportunity for us to possibly go top of the league and above them.
“It’s a massive incentive and we have to do everything we can to be ready.”
Sports are boosted by the return of Nick Hutchings but West misses out.
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