LEADING marksman Mark Gamble netted twice as Wimborne Town marched into the Dorset Cup semi-finals with a 4-1 win over Sherborne Town at Cuthbury on Tuesday.

It was the Western League visitors who were quickest out of the blocks with a Steve Burton header giving them the lead in the first few minutes.

The early setback rattled the hosts who took a quarter of an hour to settle and stamp their authority on the game.

Magpies’ territorial advantage was eventually converted into an equaliser when Gamble latched on to a George Webb cross to score from a tight angle.

Sherborne’s Sam Farthing went close to breaking the deadlock shortly after the break before a flurry of goals sealed victory for Wimborne.

Gamble completed his brace following good work from Sam Griffin and Jack Lupton, while Jamie Davidson added a third five minutes later.

Webb rounded off the scoring for Magpies when he collected a return pass from substitute James Stokoe to guide his shot just inside the far post.

Sherborne responded well in the final quarter of the match but were unable to reduce the deficit.

Elsewhere in the Dorset Senior Cup, Weymouth booked their place in the last four with a 3-1 home win over Hamworthy Rec.

  • Second-bottom Bashley remain seven points behind fellow Southern League Division One South & West strugglers Wantage following another hefty defeat on Tuesday night.

Manager Dominic Cunliffe’s team slumped to a 5-0 defeat at Evesham United. Nick Stanley netted the first two goals for the hosts on 19 and 26 minutes.

On-loan striker Adam Mann also bagged a brace for his new club. The Gloucester City marksman scored in the 28th and 65th minutes.

Lance Smith completed the rout with a goal nine minutes from time.