SHERBORNE 2

DORCHESTER SPORTS 3

DORCHESTER Sports kept their 100 percent opening day record in the Dorset Premier League thanks to a starring substitute performance from Will Turland helping them to a 3-2 win over Sherborne on a miserable wet afternoon.

Sports had previously beaten Parley and Blandford on the opening day, both at home, in previous seasons but this time the away trip proved tricky.

Sports handed full starting debuts to new signings Jamie Quinton, Patrick Thomas and Will Gould, but the first half was a tight affair with few chances. Joel Hewitt went through one-on-one but he put the ball wide for Sports.

He made up for the miss shortly after when a free-kick from Jamie Samways found Jason Read at the back post and his pull-back found Hewitt to tap in from close range.

Sherborne came out firing in the second half and equalised on the hour after good work down the left-hand side by Ollie Hibbard and his cross was tapped in from close range by Will Ireland.

The home side nearly took the lead shortly after some good work again down the left from Hibbard, but this time his shot went just wide.

The game was now end-to-end but the turning point was when Sports brought on Turland on 70 minutes.

Last year’s top scorer for Sports found himself in on goal from a Hewitt pass, was bundled over on the edge of the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Gareth Will slotted past the home keeper for 2-1 to give Sports the lead, and shortly after it was 3-1 when Hewitt again found Turland who struck his shot into the corner from the edge of the box on 82 minutes to cement the lead.

Sports now looked comfortable but they conceded another sloppy goal on 90 minutes from Scott Martin and the away side were then up against it as Sherborne battled hard in search of an equaliser, but after two goal-mouth scrambles Sports cleared their lines for a vital opening day win.

Dorchester Sports’ manager Ashley James praised Turland for his starring role which proved vital in claiming all three points.

James said: “I think our subs absolutely changed that game for us. Will and Jamie Rawlings coming on really made a difference for us in the last 20 minutes.

“They did really well and they were a real threat for us and obviously Will coming on, winning the penalty and then he scored his goal. For the last 20 minutes he did really well.”

Sports: Frost, Heal (Amor 65), Read, Gould, P Thomas, B Thomas, Samways, Will, Hewitt, Beasley (Turland 70), Quinton (Rawlings 60).

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