CHICKERELL UNITED 4

STURMINSTER N UTD 2

STEVE Coward believes that Chickerell United are “in the driving seat” to claim the Dorset Senior League title this term.

The Chickens, who have only lost one league fixture from their first 10 outings, produced an assured display in difficult conditions at the Stalls to overcome Sturminster Newton United 4-2 and bag their seventh league win of the campaign.

Goals from Josh Houghton (2), Nick Etherington and a Dan Welch penalty proved enough for the Chickens to emerge victorious and keep the pressure on league leaders Witchampton, who beat Gillingham Town Reserves 1-0 at home.

That result puts Coward’s men just a point behind the Witches in the race for the crown with a game in hand on their title rivals.

Commenting on his side’s performance, Coward believes his charges looked more match sharp than in their previous contest – a 2-1 loss to Westland Sports Reserves.

He told Echosport: “We were on top for the majority of the game, they had a couple of 10-minute spells where we were lacklustre but by about half an hour the pitch was horrendous to play on. It was a mud bath.

“It was nice to just get two games under our belt with one after the other. Saturday was a good match fitness test for us as well.

“Our training has been running rather than ball work where it should be ball work at this time of year. With that under our belt now hopefully we can have a training session and actually get the balls out.

“We looked fitter against them but there is still room for improvement, there always is but it is three points for us and that’s the key.

“It was more of a team effort, football wise you can’t say it was outstanding because of the conditions. You have to look for a team performance and I felt that showed. There was a good atmosphere in the dressing room.”

Next up for the Chickens is a home encounter with Poole Borough at the Stalls on Saturday (2pm) and Coward is eager for his side to keep their foot on the pedal in their charge to land the crown.

He added: “We are still in the driving seat with winning on Saturday.

“Hopefully, with the games in hand and the points we have got now, it is there for us to lose.”

Chickens: Bickerstaff, D Welch, Charles, L Taylor, S Welch, Harvey, Jarvis, Rawlings, Hansford, Houghton, Etherington. Subs: Ryan, Stewart, Boatswain