GILLINGHAM TOWN RESERVES 5 CHICKERELL UNITED 3

CHICKERELL United relinquished their position at the top of the Dorset Senior League after they conceded five goals in a lacklustre defeat to Gillingham Town Reserves.

After going in at the break trailing 3-1, Dan Welch hit a post early in the second half for the Chickens and manager Steve Coward believed had that strike hit the net, it could have changed the whole complexion of the contest.

He told Echosport: “We all thought it had gone in but it didn’t and, to be quite honest, it could have been a turning point because we created about three or four chances then within 10 minutes after that.

“We were so desperate to get the ball in the back of the net.”

Although Warren White, Steve Welch and Dan Welch all registered for the visitors, they were powerless to stop the Gills, who found the net themselves with an Elliot Bevis hat-trick, Ryan Schouten and Seth Guyknapp.

“We didn’t play very well at all but they put in three first-team players against us that have played in the Western League, they made a difference,” Coward claimed.

“They had a lad up top who was so good and so quick he tore us apart.

“It’s a horrible one to go to and when they throw three of the first team against you, it’s not an excuse to lose but it doesn’t help when you aren’t having a good day yourselves.

“You couldn’t blame anyone from our side but you couldn’t turn around and say that anyone was man of the match, it was just one those days when it didn’t happen for us.”

The Chickens will need to pick themselves up for a crucial encounter at the Stalls when they face third-placed South Cheriton United on Saturday (2pm).

Chickens: Boore, Miles, Burton, L Taylor (Coles), Newnham, Jarvis, Churchill (Rawlings), D Welch, S Welch, Why, White