A “CHUFFED” Chickerell United lifted the Dorset Senior League title on Saturday, despite concluding the season with a lacklustre defeat at home to

Witchampton.

Some of the Chickens’ players appeared fatigued, having given their all in midweek to wrap up the league in a dramatic draw at Gillingham Reserves.

The tired cohort included James Hansford and Pete Jarvis, both of whom were forced off with injuries in the first half.

Chances came aplenty for the home side, Joe Charles’ flying volley coming closest in the first period, before Warren White and Matt Harvey among others having shots palmed away.

However, a watertight Witchampton defence prevented wave after wave of attack throughout the game, with a stand-out performance from goalkeeper Alex Stokes.

Duane Hobbs hit the bar for the visitors on the half-hour mark, before Liam Cullen tucked home the game’s only goal on the stroke of half time.

There was a jubilant atmosphere around The Stalls after the final whistle, the players and fans not letting the result take the shine off their stunning season as they lifted the trophy.

A couple of players – referring to the defeat – joked: “How on earth have we won the league?”

Manager Steve Coward admitted that it wasn’t the finest performance he’d seen, but puts the loss down to a tiring week for the

club.

“We put so much effort into Wednesday night (against Gillingham), it showed a little bit today,” he said.

“We did create enough chances but we’re chuffed as nuts we’ve won the league.

“I’ve been here for four years and it’s the one I wanted to win, so I’m well happy.

“These lads have been superb all year, so you can’t judge it on one game.

“We did our work on Wednesday night, so we went in relaxed and wanted to enjoy this one.”

Despite finishing top, the Chickens can’t be promoted to the Dorset Premier League as they don’t meet pitch regulations.

Coward says there may be a long-term solution to that problem in the pipeline, but whatever happens, he doesn’t want to take the club away from the Chickerell area.

“It’s not an ideal pitch (The Stalls) but we play in the middle of our village, and that’s where we are at the end of the

day.

“If we have to stay in this league forever more to play in our village then that’s what we’ll

do.”

Chickens: Bickerstaff, Welch, Taylor, Houghton, Harvey, Jarvis (White, 37), Boatswain, Hansford (Miles, 25), Rawlings, Charles, Ryan (Protheroe, 63)

Subs not used: None