Hamworthy Recreation coach Andress is “ready for Weymouth challenge”

Hamworthy Recreation secured their spot in the Dorset Senior Cup final for the second year in a row at the BJM stadium, after a 4-3 win on penalties over Shaftesbury FC.

The game finished 2-2 after the ninety minutes with goals from Eddie Hodge and Sean Wright taking the home side to a penalty shootout in the freezing conditions.

Defender Sonny Pike scored the winning penalty that sent the Hamworthy players and fans into a loud eruption of celebration, as they’d just secured their ticket to March’s DSC final.

Hamworthy coach, Ryan Andress, said: “We’re pleased to get to the final against a team a league above us.

“We had to work for it in the end, we probably should have had a few in the first half to make it more difficult for them.

“Fair credit to them as they came back in the second half with their set pieces.”

Shaftesbury were causing issues from set pieces for Hamworthy in the first half.

It only took them five minutes into the second to find an equaliser, Leighton Thomas making it one a piece.

“We could have definitely killed the game off in the first half.” said Andress.

“At half-time we knew what their main threat was, and to give away our lead from a corner after such a dominant first half was very frustrating.”

“We’re an attacking side, we’re proud of that, but on the downside, we are going to concede goals.

“I feel today’s game was representative of that.”

The game finished all square after ninety minutes, with goals from Sean Wright and Spencer Hanslip taking the game to a penalty shootout.

“We’d lost a few penalty shootouts recently.” said Andress.

“We knew we had to make it count this time and secure our place in the final.

“Felix made two unbelievable saves, and the majority of our lads were so confident when stepping up.”

Felix Druce saved two out of the five penalties he faced, leaving it all down to Sonny Pike.

Pike stepped up sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 4-3 on penalties and sending Hamworthy Recreation to the cup final for the second year running.

Hamworthy Recreation will face National League South side Weymouth in the cup final in March, after they beat Sturminster Newton United 3-1.

Andress is well up for the challenge in playing a team three steps above them, he said: “No doubt we’re playing a team three leagues above us, and with history, but that’s the challenge for the lads, that’s what we’ll set them.

“We’ll go into the game full of confidence and give it everything.”