League big guns the target for Upwey & Broadwey (From Dorset Echo)

League big guns the target for Upwey & Broadwey

4:30pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in Sport By Adam Summers

UPWEY & Broadwey will bid to become the first team to topple the league leaders on Saturday when they travel to Mere Town (3pm).

Mere are currently running away with the Dorset Senior League, having dropped just two points from their 15 games so far, but Steve Reynolds is adamant his men can match them.

The Upwey boss said: “We have not played them yet but I have watched them a couple of times and their record speaks for itself.

“They are still unbeaten and are desperate to get into the Dorset Premier League, but if we can keep the form going that we have shown in our last few games they will certainly have a game on their hands, there is no doubt about that.”

Upwey, who lie seventh with games in hand on all of the top six, have won their last five in the league and amassed 24 goals along the way.

Reynolds added: “We should have a similar squad to the one that faced Gillingham Town Reserves last weekend, which will give me plenty of options.

“The only one that is out at the minute is Richard Frost who has a knee-ligament problem but should be back in a couple of weeks’ time.”

At the other end of the table, Weymouth Sports will look to end their eight-game winless run at Kingston Lacy (2pm).

Sports lost 1-0 against fellow strugglers Blandford United Reserves last weekend but joint-boss Chris Hicks saw enough encouraging signs to give him faith that they can move away from danger.

He said: “Once again we were out of luck last week but the performance was much better and it has given us a benchmark.

“If we can perform like that each week and start taking a few chances I am sure things will start to turnaround.

“Kingston Lacy are a decent side and we know it’s going to be a battle but if we show the same commitment and work-rate as we did at Blandford we will stand every chance of getting something.”

Lacy have won their last four on home turf and currently sit eighth, nine points above Sports, who lie just three points above the basement.

Portland United Reserves’ winless run of games hit double figures last Saturday when they were edged out by Westland Sports.

It is home advantage again for the islanders this weekend when fifth-placed Witchampton United visit Grove Corner (3pm) as the sides meet in the league for the first time this season.

Manager Steve Coward is back on duty after missing the Westland reverse and Nick Preston, who took the reins in his absence last time out, is hoping a touch more nous in the squad will turn the side’s fortunes around.

“If we have a couple of lads from the first team it will give us that extra bit of experience,” he said.

“We do lack a bit of experience and if we get a few players from the firsts it will mean more leadership out on the pitch.

“It’s going to be a similar game to the one against Westland and we’ll be facing another established side.

“We have been shipping quite a few goals but did look more resolute when we reverted back to a 4-4-2 and everyone seems to know what they’re doing.

“We’ve got a couple of home games coming up which I hope will help us.”

While Portland were losing to Westland, Witchampton were on the wrong end of an eight-goal thriller against Piddletrenthide United, a week after conceding six to Stourpaine.

That is a defensive record which is likely to give Portland some hope as they bid to end their barren spell without a victory, a run dating back to October 20 when they beat Gillingham Town Reserves 2-0.