Dorchester TOWN 0

WESTON-SUPER-MARE 1

Villis 80

DORCHESTER Town’s FA Cup dream is at an end, and so could Ashley Vickers’ reign as manager be, following a fourth straight defeat.

The Magpies created the better openings at the Avenue Stadium but their failure to convert cost them dear as defender Matt Villis bundled home 10 minutes from the end of this second qualifying round tie – a goal that earned Weston-super-Mare £4,500 in the process.

It remains to be seen whether the defeat will prove to be Vickers’ last in charge. One thing that is certain though, is the 40-year-old won’t be going down without a fight.

With Gary Bowles embarking on a three-match ban and Ashley Nicholls failing to overcome a hamstring injury, the Magpies drafted in Kyle Critchell and Ryan Dovell as they reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.

Full-back Jake Smeeton returned to the bench after his one-month loan at Poole Town and was joined among the substitutes by fit-again gloveman Nick Jordan.

The Seagulls made three changes from the side that ran out comfortable 3-1 winners on their last visit to the Avenue almost a fortnight ago.

Keen to make amends for that woeful night, the Magpies showed their intent from the off with strike partners Ryan Moss and Ben Dickenson almost finding a route through.

The latter’s pace posed an immediate threat and after breezing past his marker on four minutes, Dickenson delivered low but the onrushing Moss was unable to keep his effort down.

Again the Magpies probed and again it was Dickenson pulling the strings. This time his cross found Chris Flood at the back stick, but visiting gloveman Lloyd Irish did just enough to snuff out the danger.

Weston started to find their rhythm and Chris Young hooked wide before teeing up Nat Pepperell for an even better opportunity, which the latter failed to convert.

A clumsy challenge from Lewis Tallack presented a decent sight from 25 yards, and Dayle Grubb almost found the bottom-left corner.

Just as the visitors were upping the ante, Dorchester produced their best move of the match. Flood and Moss exchanged passes before the former switched the play to Dickenson.

The young forward, although unable to gain control at the first attempt, whipped in a great cross for Flood, whose side-footed effort was hacked away by Nabi Diallo in front of his own keeper.

The first half ended goalless but the deadlock should have been broken nine minutes into the restart.

A slip by Jamie Laird was seized upon by Flood, who did well to set Moss free.

Unfortunately for the home faithful, the county town number nine was unable to beat Irish one-on-one.

Twenty-five minutes passed without incident and the tie looked destined for a Tuesday night reply.

But with their first shot on target, the Seagulls grabbed what proved to be the winning goal.

A well-worked free-kick saw substitute Ben Cleverley pick out Jamie Price on the right side of the area and his cut-back beat the outstretched hand of Alan Walker-Harris, leaving Villis free to force the ball over the line from a yard out.

The goal breathed new life into the Magpies and a 20-yard set-piece from Flood was well cleared before Dovell nodded over from eight yards after being teed up by Dickenson.

Weston remained a threat on the break however and despite looking a mile offside, Sahr Kabba found himself clean through with six minutes to go.

Justice prevailed though as Walker-Harris came to the rescue to prevent a game-ending second.

Towering defender Nathan Walker was thrown up front, and Rico Wilson also entered the fray, as the Magpies desperately searched for an equaliser.

But there was to be no final twist as the curtain came down on the Magpies’ involvement in the most famous of domestic cup competitions.

Supporters’ Club Player of the Month August and September: Ben Dickenson

Magpies: Walker-Harris, Tallack, N Martin, Dovell, N Walker, Critchell, Flood (Wilson 90), Gleeson, Moss, Dickenson, Devlin. Subs not used: Bell, Symes, Smeeton, Vickers, Jordan.

Seagulls: Irish, Price, Laird, Grubb, Villis, J Martin, Diallo, Kirk, Young (Cleverley 55), Huxley (Kabba 62), Pepperell. Subs not used: MacKay, Booth, Hunt, Trowbridge.