DSL Previews: Sports out for island revenge (From Dorset Echo)

DSL Previews: Sports out for island revenge

8:28am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Football By Adam Summers

WEYMOUTH Sports will be out to make amends tomorrow when they host local rivals Portland United Reserves at Weymouth College (2pm).

The high-flying Blues ran out 5-0 winners the last time the two teams met at Grove Corner on October 22 and they will go into this weekend’s clash firm favourites again, but Chris Hicks is backing Sports to provide a much sterner test.

The joint-boss told Echosport: “We did not turn up at their place earlier in the season and got turned over so tomorrow we will be out to give a much better account of ourselves.

“With a few numbers back and everyone giving 100 per cent there is no reason why we cannot get something from the game.”

Glenn Dear, Scott Walker, Stu Dixon and Ben Thomas could all return for Sports but there are doubts over the fitness of Jason Thoday, who pulled up with a calf injury in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Blandford United Reserves.

Portland currently lie fourth in the Dorset Senior League while Hicks’ men sit seventh, 10 points adrift having played two games more.

Meanwhile, Upwey & Broadwey welcome back skipper Phil Anderson for their clash against Okeford United at Redlands (2pm).

The influential defender has missed the last few weeks through suspension and boss Steve Reynolds cannot wait to see him return to action.

He said: “Phil is back this week which is a major boost. He leads by example through the way he plays and hopefully his return can help us push on.

“We need to settle things down now and get on a winning run. If we can do that then there is every chance we will be there at the end.

“We still have to play Portland, Kingston Lacy and Witchampton United again, who are all just below us with games in hand, so it’s wide open.

“We have just got to make sure we do not drop any points in our other games, but no match is easy.

“Okeford have not lost in their last five so we are going to have to be at our best to come out on top.”

Dom Wellman also comes back into contention for second-placed Upwey while Jason Pearce should recover in time to take his place in the starting line-up after suffering a knock in last Saturday’s 3-1 win over Stourpaine.

Third-bottom Chickerell United Reserves will host fourth-bottom Gillingham Town Reserves at the Stalls (2pm).