SHOLING RESERVES 2 DORCHESTER RESERVES 1
HARRY Reynolds took his place in Dorchester Reserves’ goal with a suspected broken finger, as the county town side could not prevent Sholing Reserves marching to the Wyvern League title at the VT Sports Ground.
Magpies’ boss Dave Kiteley was all set to name a last-minute replacement for Reynolds before kick-off, but the youngster was unwavered by the injury and decided to play, much to the respect of his manager.
Kiteley told Echosport: “I was going to put someone else in goal but he was determined and played the full 90 minutes, for a lad that’s only 16-years-old that takes great character.
“We think that the finger is broken and I have told him to go to the accident clinic to get it checked out.”
With stopper Reynolds taking his place in Kiteley’s starting XI, the Magpies took the lead midway through the first half when Jack Vallier glanced a header, which deflected off a defender and into the net from Luke Pidgeley’s cross.
Jack Twyford had a free-kick well saved in the second half and Reynolds was on hand to produce a superb stop with 20 minutes to go.
But in what Kiteley admitted was a raucous atmosphere, Shol-ing, who needed a win to snatch the title out of the grasp of AFC Porchester Reserves, roared back in the final 15 minutes netting twice to claim the league crown.
Looking at his side’s season as a whole, Kiteley added: “I am really pleased with how we have performed, there are some really talented players with us at the moment, and they just need pushing to that next level.
“If they are dedicated and looked after in the right way, they will progress.”
The result means that Dorchester Reserves finish their season in third place in the Wyvern league standings on 34 points.
Magpies: Reynolds, Case, Bathie, Hanger, Mitchie, Smith, Pidgeley (Gwenzi 73), Old (Godfrey 70), Tennant, Vallier, Twyford
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