DORCHESTER Sports’ boss Ashley James has called for his side to bring their “heads back up” ahead of a crucial clash with Hamworthy Recreation in the Dorset Premier League today (3pm).

Sports lost 4-3 to Hamworthy United Reserves on Wednesday night with the last kick of the game, but James urged his players to “dig in” for the vital match with Rec.

He told Echosport: “It’s a big game, we’ve got to get out heads back up. It’s a 3G and they’ve changed their home pitch. Hopefully we can improve on the 3G because we haven’t done very well there in the last couple of years.

“I suppose when you concede four goals in the second half it’s not great preparation for a massive game. We’ve got to try and dig in.”

Jason Reed comes back after a two-game ban, but Dan Peart is out for the season after suffering a broken ankle in midweek.

However, Sports will be aiming to bounce back from an uncharacteristic home performance, which saw them downed by the Hammers’ second string at the Avenue Stadium.

On a gloomy evening, playing just 40 minutes each half, Sports’ Joel Hewitt and Will Turland wasted chances in a goalless first half, failing to capitalise on what had been a dominant opening 45 for James’ men.

Sports also started the second half on top and took the lead on 50 minutes when Hewitt’s header found the back of the net.

But the Hammers reacted well and were very much on top thereafter, putting three quick goals past the hosts.

After putting Sports under severe pressure, they missed several chances before finally equalising through the in-form Sam Carter. Hamworthy kept pressing and added two quick goals through Joshua Rose to turn the game completely in their favour.

With the game fading out, Sports kept trying and got two quick goals of their own in the space of four minutes through substitute Lewis Amor then when Turland smashed in from the edge of the box.

The game was now being played in complete darkness and into stoppage time the away side were awarded a free-kick, which wasn’t cleared by Sports and was smashed into the top corner by Chris Squire to win the game.

Sports could not reply as the referee blew for full-time immediately after the Hammers’ fourth goal.

Victory moves Hamworthy into fourth, two places and two points ahead of Sports, with James’ side having played six games fewer.

Sports: Fusco, Gatehouse, Peart (Belt 45) Gould, Beasley, Critchel, Symes, Samways (Amor 70), Turland, Hewitt (Steele 65), Will

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