CHICKERELL UNITED 5 CORFE MULLEN UNITED 0

CHICKERELL UNITED are currently a point clear at the top of the Dorset Senior League after they smashed five past Corfe Mullen United at the Stalls.

Manager Steve Coward, who has made his intentions clear to challenge for the title this term, saw his side record their second win in three league games thanks to goals from James Hansford (2), a Nick Etherington penalty, Steve Welch, and Josh Why, who made his return to the first team.

Coward believed his side lacked a cutting edge against Poole Borough a week previously but that was definitely not the case at the Stalls this time around.

The Chickens’ chief said: “We played really well, it all seemed to click.

“We had worked on a few things in training and tried a few different things with our attacking play to open defenders up.

“We played a bit of a different formation where we could support the front guys a lot quicker by playing higher up the pitch. It made a big difference.

“It was nice to watch something that you worked on pay off. The effort was there as well and you could tell everyone wanted to win well after dropping points last week.”

With Warren White still unavailable through suspension at the weekend, Coward was also chuffed to see striker Why return to the fold.

He added: “We had Josh to come back in on Saturday which was a massive plus for us, he has been well missed.

“He is doing a university course and we know he can’t commit to us 100 per cent this year.

“He was back in the first-team and he looked sharp. Until his course starts he won’t know how much time he is able to give but he is a big asset to the club.

“He has been there since he was a junior and is well thought of throughout the club as a player and a person.”

And with five goals under their belt, the Stalls’ manager insists his side’s self-belief will sky-rocket.

“When you are building a side you want to build confidence as well. They all gelled and came off with smiles on their faces on Saturday,” he added.

“With the players we have to come back in we are just getting stronger and stronger. Hopefully we can just carry on beating what is in front of us.”

Chickens: Bickerstaff, L Taylor, Boatswain, Miles, Welch, Jarvis, Harvey, Rawlings, Hansford, Etherington, Why. Subs: Stewart, Protheroe, Ryan