CHICKERELL UNITED 3 UPWEY & BROADWEY 2

JOSH Why took his league tally into double figures this season with a brace in Chickerell’s derby victory over Upwey & Broadwey at the Stalls.

With Steve Welch bagging his 14th of the campaign in the Dorset Senior League, the hosts surged into a 3-0 half-time lead as Upwey struggled to deal with losing Richie Frost to a hamstring injury.

Kicking down the slop after the interval, the visitors pulled goals back from Sean Zima and Robbie Rolls, but the Chickens held on.

Chickerell stay second in the league table, one point behind Westland Sports, and Upwey remain fifth.

“We didn’t come out at all in the first 10 minutes but then all of a sudden we upped our game and went 3-0 up by half-time,” said Chickerell boss Steve Coward.

“They pulled two goals back with about 10 minutes left and it was a bit nervy towards the end, but it was a fantastic three points for us.

“Upwey are always going to be one of the hardest sides to play in this league, and when you come away from your two games against them with six points you know you are having a good season.

“Josh Why has found a bit of form and is scoring a few now, and the whole back four were superb.”

Coward’s Upwey counterpart, Steve Reynolds, felt his men were bossing proceedings until Frost had to leave the field – the visitors were also playing without a recognised keeper between the sticks.

“We were trying to find out if Richie was coming back on when they scored their first,” said Reynolds. “We were reorganising the side and were in a bit of disarray when they scored two more.

“The second half was all us. Sean Zima scored with a superb free-kick and Robbie Rolls made it 3-2 but we couldn’t get a third.”

Chickens: Boore, Miles, Green, Willett, Ferguson, Campbell-Bell, Etherington, S Welch, Coles, White, Why.

Upwey: Aston, S Zima, Pearce, May, Dixon, Devaney, Frost, Jarvis, R Zima, Rolls, Nichols.

* Portland United Reserves drew 0-0 at home to Sturminster Newton United.