PORTLAND UNITED RES 1

CHICKERELL UNITED 3

CHICKERELL United manager Steve Coward was left feeling disappointed by his side’s performance despite beating Dorset Senior League’s bottom club Portland United Reserves on Wednesday night.

Goals from Matt Harvey, Nick Etherington and Warren White secured the victory for the

Chickens. It means they still sit four points clear at the top of the table with just two games to

go.

After the away side had gone 3-0 up, Portland responded with a consolation goal in the 75th minute.

The result may have tightened Chickerell’s hold on the title, but their manager was not pleased with his side after the game.

He said: “I was disappointed with the performance, yes we picked up the three points and got the result but we didn’t do it in a good manner.

“We didn’t play very well. It didn’t click, our passing and our possession of the ball was poor. We got it and then we gave it away, we got it and we gave it away and so on.

“They did okay against us, and no disrespect to them, but we played badly and still won 3-1. It was comfortable, they didn’t threaten us.”

After the league leaders had spurned a couple of chances, Harvey opened the scoring after 25 minutes.

Etherington doubled the lead 10 minutes later and White killed the game off 15 minutes into the second half with his first goal of the night.

However despite the goal scorers’ efforts, Coward picked out substitute Aaron Ryan as one of his stand-out players on a lacklustre night for the table-toppers.

“We got Aaron from Weymouth Reserves and he’s been starting a few games and we’ve been bringing him on for 30 minutes or an hour and he is improving every week,” the boss explained. “I’ve got a lot of time for him and he gives you that energy. He chases everything down, his touch is good and he did very well when he came on.”

The Chickens know a win from their last two games will secure them the title however they face their nearest rivals Gillingham Town Reserves in their next fixture on Saturday, April 30.

“That’s the big one,” Coward added. “If we win that then it’s done and dusted.

“We’ve got to go there and win and we will probably set up differently.

“We know what we need to do.”

Chickens: Bickerstaff, S Welch, Miles, D Welch, Boatswain (Charles, 45), Harvey, Jarvis (Ryan, 55), Hansford, Etherington (Taylor, 70), Houghton, White.

Subs not used: None