CHICKERELL UNITED 3 BLANDFORD UNITED 1

CHICKERELL United made it four wins on the spin with victory over Blandford United.

Josh Tennant, Sean Stewart and substitute Josh Why all found the net at Weymouth College as the Chickens beat the Royals to move level on points with fifth-placed Bridport Reserves in the Magna Dorset Premier League.

Although admitting his men were fortunate to boast a 1-0 lead at the break, boss Maurice Welch was delighted with their second-half response.

He said: “It’s a game you’d like to think you can win beforehand but it wasn’t as easy as that as they were the better side in the first half.

“We did go ahead after 10 minutes with a good header from Josh Tennant and at that point you think it’s going to be plain sailing.

“But it was the worst thing that could have happened as the lads took their foot off the gas and let Blandford back into it.

“They created some good chances and how we were still 1-0 ahead at half-time I do not know.

“We looked very ragged and our passing was very bad all over the park. We had lost our shape and discipline but we had a chat at half-time and talked about how we were going to put it right.

“I also switched our two full-backs over and that seemed to do the trick as we looked the better side in the second half and got a second with a great goal from Sean.

“Josh Tennant’s initial shot was saved by the keeper and only half-cleared by the defender. Sean got under it and produced an overhead kick which went straight into the top corner.

“That settled us down and to be fair we were in total control again. But then they got a penalty when Nick Etherington handled in the area.

“He didn’t mean to do it but we could have no complaints and it was 2-1 with 10 minutes to go.

“Fortunately, Josh Why rounded the keeper and made it 3-1 to kill the game off.”

Welch also took time to praise the efforts of Dorchester Town assets Aston Butcher and Tennant.

He added: “Aston had a great game and was the pick of the bunch at the back. Josh also did very well up front for us.

“Most of the other lads know they can play better but they all worked hard so I couldn’t have asked for any more in that respect.”

United travel to Shaftesbury this Saturday, where they will hope to record a fifth successive victory in all competitions.

Chickens: Boore, Lambert, Butcher, Burton, S Welch, Etherington (Connor 82), Stewart, Miles, Sibley, Tennant (Why 60), Pattison. Sub not used: J Welch.