CHICKERELL UNITED 2 PORTLAND UNITED RES 0

CHICKERELL United kept their quest for a league and cup double alive as they saw off bottom side Portland United Reserves at the Stalls.

First-half goals from strike duo Josh Why and Nick Etherington sealed the points within the opening first half hour for the hosts, against a Portland squad which manager Steve Coward believed was stronger than normal.

He told Echosport: “We were very good and we knew it was going to be even tougher because their first team didn’t have a fixture, so they put in a few of the first-team against us.

“That’s probably one of the strongest sides they have named all season.

“But you can’t knock them for doing it. They played some of the players which haven’t had minutes which was fair enough.

“I had no Steve Welch, no Dan Welch or Warren White and I have got them all to come back in. It is great to have them to come back on top of us playing well already.

“We were under a lot of pressure in the second half and defended very well. They did press us high but didn’t create too many chances in the second half.”

But despite the Blues’ efforts, Coward’s men kept up their bid to catch league leaders Balti House, and the Chickerell chief was full of praise for his squad.

He added: “Joe Charles came in at the back after his injury and did very well, he was solid with Liam Miles.

“Pete Jarvis just didn’t stop running for 90 minutes, he was excellent, it was a superb performance.

“He put his head in for challenges and his work-rate was fantastic, everyone worked hard but he was superb. When you have one person doing that, other people follow."

And although knowing his side require maximum points from their final three league games to topple Balti on goal difference, Coward is trying to keep calm over his side’s run-in.

“We have three league games left and we know if we win those we overtake Balti, it just all depends on Holt,” he added.

“It’s quite nervy going into the games because you know you have to win it.

“We just have to keep doing what we do and keep the pressure on them.

“It’s really good for grassroots football because it could literally go down to the last game of the season with three teams able to win it, which gives you a real buzz.”

Chickens: Boore, Miles, Charles, Burton, Ykhlef, Churchill, Jarvis, Stewart (L Taylor), Newnham (Smith-McFarlane), Etherington, Why (Preece)