HAMWORTHY RECREATION 4 CHICKERELL UNITED 2

DEFENSIVE errors cost Chickerell United dear as they suffered a 4-2 defeat at Magna Road.

The Chickens matched Hamworthy Recreation for much of the contest and at times looked the better side but individual mistakes eventually brought about their downfall with James Hales, Dominic Falco, Tom Willis and Simon Dyer taking full advantage.

United boss Maurice Welch, whose men have failed to win in their last five outings, said: “It was a very hot afternoon and the pitch was beautiful but despite plenty of effort from both sides the quality of football in the opening half-hour was not the best.

“They then lumped the ball forward and when we failed to defend it very well, one of their lads played a one-two and shot across Steve Boore to hand them the lead.

“It was a disappointing goal to concede but it did spur us on and for the rest of the half we were the better side.

“Liam Beades was denied by a great save and then sent the rebound off target, Jake Price went through and shot straight at the keeper, and there were also a couple of other chances but we just could not put them away.

“After that we knew we were more than capable of competing with them and at the start of the second half we finally got back level through a fine header from Liam Miles.

“For 15 minutes it then looked like there was only one team that was going to go on and win it but unfortunately we then gave away another sloppy goal when we tried to play out from the back and got caught.

“That deflated us a bit and just five minutes later we conceded another and were suddenly 3-1 down.

“We then reshaped and went 4-3-3 and got back to 3-2 through Josh Why but we just could not force the equaliser and in the end they went on to hit a fourth.

“Once again I could not fault the lads in terms effort but we are conceding silly goals at the moment and until we eradicate that we are going to continue to struggle to pick up results.

“We just need a good win to get our confidence up and once we get that I think we will be fine.”

The Chickens now sit 10th in the Magna Dorset Premier League, four points adrift of the top five.

Chickens: Boore, Butcher, S Welch, Burton, Sibley, Etherington, Miles, Peck, Price (Connor 80), Beades (J Welch 75), Why.