WIMBORNE Town goalkeeper Gerard Benfield scored one of the more unusual FA Trophy goals – as he netted a free-kick from his own half.

Magpies were level at 1-1 with hosts North Leigh when Benfield thumped home an extraordinary strike.

And the visitors eventually prevailed 3-1, banking £3,000 and setting up an away clash with Southern League East side Thame United in first round qualifying.

Explaining Benfield's unexpected effort, Wimborne Town boss Matty Holmes told the Daily Echo: "It was a deep free-kick, he played it long and Toby Holmes got in front of their keeper, who took him out and the ball rolled into the net.

"The referee said it would have been a penalty had it not gone in.

"We couldn't quite work out what was happening. Toby was on the ground and the referee went over to speak to the linesman and we thought he wasn't going to give the goal for some reason.

"Then he booked one of our players and it was all a little bit confusing so the players didn't run off and celebrate like normal. They were more concerned about Toby because he got taken out, although he was okay in the end.

"It was a great strike by Gerard. He's a very quiet, unassuming lad. He just gets on with it and takes things in his stride."

Prior to Benfield's goal, George Seacole had put the hosts in front in fortuitous fashion before Toby Holmes equalised following good work by Luke Burbidge.

That was how it stayed until late in the second half, when Burbidge's angled shot fell kindly for Toby Holmes, who tucked away his second.

Matty Holmes added: "To go to North Leigh and get a result like that was an incredible effort from the lads.

"To a man, they were superb. After the early goal, we showed great character to win the game.

"We had a game plan which we asked the lads to stick to and luckily they did that."

Magpies: Benfield, Penny, Maybury, Arnold, S Davidson, Kellaway, Stokoe, L Holmes (Francis, 89), T Holmes, Burbidge, Lovell. Unused subs: Bayston, Walsh, Walker, Cole.