MARK Gamble’s second-half double helped resolute Wimborne Town to produce a Dorset derby shock over Dorchester Town in the FA Trophy.

Steve Cuss’s charges showed more composure and an incisive streak on the break to trump their higher-ranked hosts 3-1 in a scrappy and at times error-strewn match at the Avenue.

Matt Kemble gave Wimborne a 1-0 lead at half-time with Gamble providing the assist for the only real moment of quality during the first 45 minutes.

Kemble returned the favour on 64 minutes before Dorch controversially hit back through skipper Nathan Walker, and while the visitors were rocked for a short time, Gamble’s second sealed their progress.

With a dearth of fit and available centre-halves, Cuss paired ex-Cherries youngster Billy Maybury with Tom Biles at the heart of a makeshift defence.

Wimborne did, however, make a solid, if unspectacular start with well-worked passing moves wasted only by a lack of punch in the final third.

Dorchester gradually got on top as the half progressed with the busy Andy Robinson giving the visitors plenty to think about but tame efforts from Dan Smith and Micky Hubbard did little to worry visiting custodian Jason Harvell.

But it was while the hosts continued to press that Wimborne broke to score with the first real moment of quality in the game.

Sam Griffin worked the ball out to Gamble who left full-back Tony Rolls trailing in his wake before whipping in a low centre for Kemble to steer a deft finish inside the far post with 20 minutes on the clock.

Dorchester continued to dominate territory but made little headway from a number of set pieces, while the visitors became increasingly reserved in their efforts to counter attack.

With 10 minutes of the first half remaining, Dan Smith combined well with Kieran Parrett to tee up on-rushing Dorchester striker Jack Odam on the edge of the box but the former Bashley man blazed wildly over the crossbar.

Wimborne attacks might have been few and far between but carried a greater threat than anything mustered by their higher-ranked hosts.

Griffin set Gamble down the right to play in a driven cross for Kemble which drew a last-ditch clearance from Walker just before the break.

The pedestrian pace continued after half-time with Kemble’s shot cannoning off Rolls eight minutes after the restart and Smith offering the only semblance of a threat for Dorchester.

Wimborne had a golden opportunity to double their money when Gamble pounced on a slip from Chris Dillon and found Davidson to work the ball out to Kemble but with the goal opening up invitingly, Alan Walker-Harris was equal to his close-range effort.

Dorchester threw on Ben Joyce and Sam Lanahan in a quest for potency and Wimborne were forced to retreat with Joyce’s goalbound effort blocked by Biles.

And how crucial that intervention proved to be as Wimborne surged forward with Kemble cushioning a header back across goal from a deep ball for Gamble to apply a simple finish at the far post.

That stirred something in the lacklustre hosts who quickly grabbed a lifeline from a controversial free kick which was drifted in by Robinson for Walker to thump home.

Seconds later, Wimborne almost imploded as a well-worked move down the right saw substitute Joyce scamper away only to send his low daisy-cutter just wide of Harvell’s far upright.

Smith exploited more space on the right moments later but shot wide of the near post as Dorchester ratcheted up the pressure.

But as the game opened up, so did the gaps for Wimborne to attack and the effervescent Kemble set full-back Max Brimson away to drift a cross-shot just wide of the far post.

Kemble himself went close with another effort as the clock ticked down but the visitors eventually made the game safe when Davidson caught Hubbard in possession before falling meekly as he entered the penalty area.

Referee Martin Bloor was unmoved but the ball broke kindly for substitute George Webb who drilled back across goal for Gamble to thump home with aplomb.

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Brimson, Biles, Stokoe, Blake, Griffin, Davidson (Lupton, 87), Kemble (Webb, 81), Gamble (Burton-Hemmings, 90), Maybury. Unused subs: Phelps, Field (g/k).

  • Poole Town also secured a safe passage to the FA Trophy second qualifying round with a 3-1 win over North Leigh at Tatnam.

Luke Roberts opened the scoring for Dolphins but their lead was cancelled out by half-time.

Portsmouth loanee Jack Maloney put Poole back in the driving seat from the penalty spot following a handball 10 minutes after the restart before Mark Jermyn’s drive from outside the area doubled their lead.

Maloney saw a second penalty saved late on but Poole still comfortably progressed.

  • In the FA Vase, Verwood Town beat Wessex Premier rivals Fareham Town 2-0 in the first round proper but Ringwood Town exited the competition with a 3-1 home defeat to Division One adversaries US Portsmouth.

In the Wessex League Premier Division, Hamworthy United played out a 2-2 draw at high-flying Petersfield Town, 10-man Bournemouth Poppies were thumped 5-0 by Moneyfields at Victoria Park and Lymington Town beat Fawley 2-1.

In Wessex One, New Milton Town lost 3-1 at home to Tadley Calleva.