Suffering Sports hit by smash and grab (From Dorset Echo)

Suffering Sports hit by smash and grab

5:00pm Wednesday 27th February 2013 in Sport By Adam Summers

BLANDFORD UNITED RES 1 WEYMOUTH SPORTS 0

WEYMOUTH Sports were left cursing their luck after falling victims to a late smash and grab raid by Blandford United Reserves in the Dorset Senior League.

Sports dominated the clash from start to finish and created numerous opportunities, only to see their winless streak stretch to eight games following a late strike from Ellis Greenslade with just three minutes remaining.

Commenting on his side’s 1-0 defeat, joint-boss Chris Hicks said: “We absolutely battered them throughout, so much so that they hardly entered our half and only had two shots the whole game.

“We did everything but score. We hit the bar and the post, had efforts cleared off the line and their keeper pulled off a couple of good saves.

“However, we then got caught out pushing on with three minutes to go when one of their lads scuffed a shot in off the post.

“It was extremely frustrating and I really felt for the lads afterwards because it was almost the complete performance.

“In some of our recent games we just haven’t been good enough but on this occasion everything in terms of our overall attitude, commitment and work-rate was spot on. For some reason though the ball just isn’t going in for us at the moment and it is something we desperately need to get over.”

Hicks went on to add: “If we had come away from there with a 6-0 victory they could not have complained and in many ways it just typified our season so far.

“We have had every bit of bad luck imaginable this year but one thing I do know is that if we continue to show that same effort and spirit every week it will eventually turn in our favour at some point – it has to.”

Andy Cleal and Sam Culpin both struck the woodwork for Sports while Simon Austin went close with a header from a corner.

Stu Dixon, Gerry Delaplanque and Josh Stroud also threatened but in the end it was the Royals that finally broke the deadlock.

The defeat has left Sports five points adrift of fourth-bottom Blandford and just three above the foot of the table.

Their next encounter on Saturday will see them travel to mid-table Kingston Lacy, who have won their last four at home.

Sports: Parkes, Stroud, Bessant, Austin, Hicks, Dixon (Thomas 75), Culpin, Connor, Taylor, Delaplanque (Smith-McFarlane), Cleal.