Mudge strikes gold

9:18am Monday 21st July 2008

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DORCHESTER TOWN 1

WEYMOUTH 0

SUMMER signing Jamie Mudge struck in the second half to land Dorchester the South Coast Challenge Trophy at the Jewson Stadium.

After a dire first period the game came alive in the second half with chances at either end but it was the former Exeter City man that proved the match-winner with 14 minutes remaining when his clever movement and fine finish punished some slack defending by the visitors.

Terras' boss John Hollins handed starts to trialists Andy Taylor and Anthony Mason, along with academy forward Terngu Agera.

Summer signing Chris McPhee, who only joined up with his new employers the previous day, began on the bench, as did Nicholas Nicholai, another free agent looking to get fixed up for next season.

Skipper Anton Robinson and forwards Pierre Joseph-Dubois and Stuart Beavon were all rested.

The Magpies included four trialists in their squad but only keeper Nick Hutchings started. Billy Puckett, Leon Osei and Michael Walker were all named as substitutes.

The opening exchanges were littered with misplaced passes as both sides struggled to settle.

Mudge looked lively for Town but Weymouth's new back four of Cameron Mawer, Scott Doe, Santos Gaia and Kevin Sandwith were rarely troubled.

It was not until the 14th minute that the Terras created their first opening, which came courtesy of an under-hit back-pass by Mark Jermyn.

James Coutts gambled but Hutch-ings made good ground to close out the danger with a brave save that left both men clutching injured legs on the floor.

Thankfully for both sides no serious damage was done to either player and it was not long before the action resumed.

The Terras then made an early change by replacing Agera with McPhee on 24 minutes in a bid to improve their attacking options. The young forward looked a little demoralised as he trudged off the field but Hollins soon met him with comforting arms and quickly reassured him.

Despite the arrival of McPhee, Weymouth continued to struggle to keep hold of possession as Dorchester hassled and harried without looking threatening.

In fact it was proving to be a pretty dour spectacle with Kevin Hill's experience and leadership alongside the industrious Danny Clay in midfield for the Magpies the only real highlight.

Both men worked tirelessly alongside Patrece Liburd and ex-Terra Nick Crittenden to stifle the visitors who were clearly lacking width with Plymouth Argyle striker Mason being starved of service.

Kevin Sandwith drove a 25-yard freekick wide of Hutchings' near post on 36 minutes but that was the nearest anyone came to registering as the first half came to an extremely tame conclusion.

No changes were made at half-time and it was Weymouth who came out with more ambition with Sandwith heading into the arms of Hutchings from a McPhee corner on 48 minutes.

Doe then nearly forced in a cross from a free-kick before Town finally produced their first effort on 55 minutes, which Hill headed over after some fine work by Ivan Forbes and Ryan Moss.

The game was clearly opening up and after Moss volleyed wide of the right upright from 16 yards, McPhee showed his class by producing a sharp turn and strike at the other end that flew just the wrong side of a post as Hutchings scrambled across his line in concern.

However, with 14 minutes to go, it was the hosts that finally broke the deadlock when substitute Osei slipped through a defence-splitting pass to Mudge, who applied a clinical finish to beat the onrushing Danny Knowles.

Mudge nearly got in again with six minutes to go but this time his shot was tame and comfortably gathered as the Terras continued to look lethargic right up to the final whistle.

Magpies: Hutchings, Jermyn, Smeeton, Clay, O'Brien, Liburd, Crittenden, Hill, Moss, Mudge, Forbes (Osei 73). Subs not used: Browne, Nicholson, Bowles, Watts, Puckett, Peprah-Annan, Walker.

Terras: Knowles, Gaia, Doe, Mawer (Frampton 83), Sandwith, Cutler, Webb (Bygrave 65), Taylor, Coutts (Williams 65), Agera (McPhee 24), Mason. Subs not used: Nicholai, Tribe, Reiffer, Lillington.

Attendance: 651.