SHAFTESBURY RESERVES 2

CHICKERELL UNITED 3

CHICKERELL United showed outstanding character to come from behind to beat Shaftesbury Town Reserves 3-2 in a fiery contest.

The Chickens took the lead after 35 minutes when Steve Welch scored direct from a free-kick, a moment of quality within a half dominated by heavy challenges and heated exchanges.

Shortly after half-time, the game turned on its head when a quick-fire double from Dave Cole and Charlie Brown put the hosts in the ascendency.

But Chickerell rallied, and the combination of youth and experience led to several penalty shouts, the first two being denied before being awarded the third which Nick Etherington dispatched.

The winner came just a few minutes from time as Welch finished off what was an excellent team move to secure the three points, with the team spirit in particular delighting United manager Steve Coward.

He said: “It was a hard game with some big tackles going in. It could have got nasty, if I’m honest. There was a lot of emotion on Saturday. There was people being kicked up in the air and young lads who were a bit nervous about the game, but the senior lads looked after them and they all helped each other.

“They had that will to win and then at half-time they had to put their arm round a couple of them because a couple of them looked a bit upset.

“The team all stuck together as a team and it was so nice to see. Everyone was there for each other and it was amazing really. It’s one of the games in football that I’ll look back and say ‘that’s one of the games I enjoyed’ and will always remember.”

But despite the circumstances, Coward was pleased with the result and is looking to continue the current form until the end of the season.

“That’s five wins in five for us. We’re just trying to win every game now. We know we can’t win the league or anything so we’re just trying to finish as high as we can. It gives you a bit of belief of where we started the season in terms of performances and the will to win, and you need to have that mentality to want to win, and I know they’ve got that and they’ll go on from here and do well together.”

Chickens: Bickerstaff, Miles, Rogers, Welch, James, Harvey, Etherington, Ryan, Bill, White, Why. Subs: Ryan, Sandeman, Carter