Chickens rule the roost in five-goal cracker (From Dorset Echo)

Chickens rule the roost in five-goal cracker

5:40pm Monday 11th March 2013 in Sport By Adam Summers

CHICKERELL UNITED 3 MERLEY COBHAM SPORTS 2

A STUNNING volley from Steve Churchill sealed all three points for Chickerell United in a five-goal thriller at Weymouth College.

Merley Cobham Sports put on a great performance and went ahead twice in the encounter but it was the Chickens that eventually edged through with Sean Stewart and Dan Austin also finding the target.

Winning boss Maurice Welch said: “Merley are a much-improved side and they made it very difficult for us. They had a couple of quick lads up front and they caused us a lot of problems, particularly in the first half.

“We got off to a slow start and they got the ball forward and broke us down well.

“They then got a penalty after we failed to clear the ball to make it 1-0 before Sean equalised with a glancing header from a free-kick.

“Despite getting level it was still back and forth, and we ended up giving away another bad goal when a couple of defensive lapses allowed them to score at the second attempt.

“Dan Austin then made it 2-2 by finding the top corner with a great finish from outside the box before half-time allowed us to put a few things right.

“We asked for a reaction and that is exactly what we got as we played much better in the second half and began to get on top.

“However, at one stage it looked like that third goal might never come but in the 75th minute we finally got it when Steve Churchill found the top corner again with a cracking volley.

“Even then it could have gone either way. We had chances to go further ahead but they also had a few of their own with Steve Boore making a couple of saves and Dan Welch clearing another effort off the line.

“It was a really good match with both teams chucking everything at it so to come away with the three points was very pleasing indeed.”

Welch went on to add: “I thought Sean had his best game for us to date and there were a lot of other plusses too.

“Oscar Preece and Josh Why worked tirelessly up top, Josh Burton and Dan Welch did well at the back and Dan Austin put in a good performance as he continues to work his way back to full fitness following a long lay-off.

“Stew Walbridge was also back from university and helped us out which again enabled us to rest Liam Miles, who is still feeling his knee.

“We ended up bringing Liam on with 20 minutes to go and he helped to give us a bit more balance.”

Chickerell now sit fourth in the Magna Dorset Premier League, two points above fifth-placed Hamworthy Recreation, who hold a game in hand.

Merley, whose goals came from Kabba Jack and Joshua Reavenall-Nuete, remain 16th, just four points above the bottom two.

Chickens: Boore, S Welch, Burton, D Welch, S Lambert, Walbridge, Stewart, Churchill, Austin (Miles 70), Why, Preece.