Banbury United: 2
Ofusu 4, Ball 78

Dorchester Town FC: 0

Dorchester Town were eliminated from the FA Cup after suffering a 2-0 defeat away to Banbury United in the First Qualifying Round on Saturday afternoon.

The Puritans took the lead after just four minutes through Yaw Ofosu. A searching ball in was flicked onto he back post by Tai Fleming where it was met by the striker.

Dorchester tried to carve out a chance of their own to draw level two minutes later, but Wayne Robinson’s searching ball was too fast for Olaf Koszela, who could not reach it.

Matt Buse was playing well for the Magpies, and took on an effort from goal on the far side after 25 minutes, but the chance fizzed over the cross bar and behind for a goal kick.

Buse and Robinson were combining with sharp play, creating an opportunity five minutes from added time. Buse’s cross was met by Robinson at the back post, but his header went over the cross bar and out of play.

Dorchester were putting on the pressure on the cusp of half-time, and came close again to levelling the score before the break. Corby Moore’s looping cross into the area was headed wide by Koszela.

The Magpies had another effort to draw level after 50 minutes when Koszela’s deep cross found substitute Shaquille Gwengwe in the area. Gwengwe headed the ball narrowly wide of the post.

On the hour mark, the home side had another opportunity. Prince Henry headed the ball over yards from goal after some good play on the far side.

Banbury were starting to dominate the attacking play and Gerard Benfield, who had a great game in midweek, was called into action again ofter 66 minutes. The keeper did well to make the save and deny centre-back Ofosu, a brace.

Dorchester came close again after 68 minutes when Wes Fogden’s strike was spilled by the goalkeeper. Ollie Haste tried to connect with the rebound but the keeper leapt on the ball.

Kyran Samadi, who was making his return from injury almost levelled the scoreline after 77 minutes, but his chance was also off target.

A minute later, the Puritans doubled their lead through George Ball who got his first goal for the club. AJ George created space on the far side by brushing past defenders to get to the byline, gifting Ball a tap-in.  

Dorchester had a chance to halve the deficit in seven minutes of added time through a penalty after Gwengwe was fouled in the area. The substitute stepped up to take the penalty but the shot blazed over the cross bar.  

With that, the final whistle blew, meaning that the Magpies FA Cup journey was over. Banbury advanced to the Second Qualifying Round.

Attendance: 458

Magpies XI: Benfield, Dickson, Bragg, Haste, Buse (Kwengwe 45), Moore, Ngalo, Pardoe (Hutchinson 64), Fogden, Koszela (Samadi 73), Robinson (Roberts 73). Subs: Turner, Holmes.