DORCHESTER TOWN 0

POOLE TOWN 2 Austin 92, Smith 99

(after extra time)

TEN-MAN Dorchester Town lost out in extra-time to a much hungrier Poole Town in last night’s Dorset Senior Cup final at the Wessex Stadium.

The Blue Square South Magpies, who had captain Kevin Hill sent off just past the hour for two bookings, were always going to struggle without a recognised striker.

But Poole, unbeaten in the Wessex Premier League this season, thoroughly deserved their victory against a poor county town outfit. The only surprise was that it took 92 minutes for the Dolphins to find a goal.

Five changes were made from Dorchester’s starting XI that lost 1-0 on Saturday. In came keeper Regan Coward, Darren Watts, Tom Clarke, Daniel Reeve and Dorch-ester Under-18s’ Neil Kellaway. Player-boss Roy O’Brien though continued with the 3-5-2 set-up.

The Dolphins named former Magpies Simon Browne and Steve Richardson in their line-up.

And the latter almost set up the opening goal inside two minutes. But after nodding down for Andy Culliford to tap home, Richardson was adjudged to have fouled Gary Bowles and the effort was ruled out.

Only a vital interception from Bowles denied Culliford once more after Charlie Austin had gone past Hill on the right and delivered a pin-point cross.

The Wessex Premier League leaders had another goal ruled out in the sixth minute, this time Austin was flagged for offside.

Tom Clarke had Dorchester’s first shot four minutes later, but his drive from distance was always going wide.

The Magpies started to see more of the ball but failed to do much with it. And it was Poole who were enjoying the better sights of goal.

Just past the midway point of the first half Culliford was to be denied for a third time, seeing his snapshot come back off a post before being hacked to safety.

Bowles had to be replaced by Nick Crittenden just prior to the half-hour after a tough tackle from Richardson, which resulted in a yellow for the Poole man.

After playing Micky Hubbard onside, Jake Smeeton made up for his misdemeanour by putting in a last-ditch block to deny a certain goal.

The Dolphins remained in the ascendancy and minutes later Coward’s unconvincing parry from Austin’s shot fell to the oncoming Stuart Brown. However, Coward redeemed himself, reacting brilliantly to tip Brown’s effort over the top.

Hill was then forced to head away from in front of his own goal after Austin beat Coward to a deep free-kick.

Poole keeper Jason Harvell was called into action for the first time deep in first-half stoppage time, comfortably plucking Tom Mitch-ell’s looping effort out of the air.

The Magpies showed a bit more urgency as the second period got underway, and seven minutes in Crittenden tried his luck from a 25-yard free-kick only for Harvell to get across and fist the shot away.

Poole were still a danger and Brown hooked an effort over his shoulder, which dipped on to the top of Coward’s goal.

And the Dolphins’ cause was boosted by the dismissal of skipper Hill, who was shown his second yellow after bringing down Austin on 61 minutes.

Despite being a man down, Dorchester had a great chance to go in front 13 minutes from time. Mitchell picked out Reeve in the penalty area but after doing the hard work, the 19-year-old shot tamely at Harvell.

At the other end Poole substitute Steve Smith’s cross-cum-shot almost caught out Coward, but the county town stopper adjusted well to palm the ball away.

Neither side could find a goal and extra-time beckoned. However, just two minutes into the extra 30, an unmarked Austin was picked out by a searching pass and the Poole predator coolly beat Coward to finally open the scoring.

The Dolphins doubled their lead seven minutes later as Smith, lobbed the onrushing Coward with confidence and ease.

The remainder of extra-time was a mere formality as Dorchester crashed to their lower ranked opponents, still looking to break their goal drought which stands at 532 minutes.

O’Brien was unavailable for comment.

Magpies: Coward, Bowles (Crittenden 29), Smeeton, Watts, Gleeson, Hill, Mitchell, Jermyn, N Kellaway (Nicholson 89), Clarke, Reeve (Critchel 102). Subs not used: Taylor, Johnson.

Dolphins: Harvell, Poore, Browne, Dibba, Whitley, Richardson (Skelton 99), Gill, Hubbard, Brown (Smith 83), Austin (Bailey-Pearce 110), Culliford. Subs not used: Trenton, Tong.

Booked: Magpies – Kevin Hill, Nick Crittenden, Jake Smeeton. Poole – Simon Browne, Steve Richardson, Carl Poore, Kevin Gill, Stuart Brown.

Sent off: Kevin Hill.

Attendance: 352