WITCHAMPTON UNITED 1

CHICKERELL UNITED 1

CHICKERELL United kept their five-point advantage over title challengers Witchampton as the sides battled out a 1-1 draw at Critchell Park.

An good individual goal from Warren White set the Chickens on their way to what would have been an 11th league win of the campaign but they were pegged back in a hard-fought top-of-the-table clash, where some tasty challenges flew in.

With Chickerell having led for the most part, the Witches got their leveller through Liam Cullen. Chickerell had half-cleared their lines from a corner and the Witches’ man let fly with a volley which flew into the top corner to ensure it was honours even.

Reflecting on the contest, Chickens’ chief Steve Coward told Echosport: “As much as it was a good result for us as such, we felt as if it probably was two points dropped. I suppose you would have taken it to start off with though.

“I just think we needed a bit more clear decision-making in the final third.

“We had lots of times in the final third where we didn’t capitalise on it. They weren’t clear-cut chances but it was just finding that final ball or yard to get a shot away.”

He added: “Overall it was a good team performance but it would have been nice to get the three points to take a lot of the pressure off.”

Chickerell’s next test comes when they host Westland Sports Reserves at the Stalls on Saturday (3pm).

Chickens: Bickerstaff, D Welch, Houghton, S Welch, L Taylor, Boatswain, Harvey, Etherington, Hansford, Rawlings, White. Subs: Riley, Ryan