STURMINSTER NEWTON 1

DORCHESTER SPORTS 3

BOSS Ashley James believes Dorchester Sports’ first victory of 2017 gives them a good platform to build on for the rest of the campaign.

The county town side currently sit sixth in the Dorset Premier League after beating Sturminster Newton at Barnetts Field.

Luke Gatehouse was given his first start for the club’s first-team, captain Lewis Amor filled in at centre-back and Sam Turner, Sam Pashen, Jordan Butler and Adam Symes all came into the team from the victory over Gillingham Town Reserves before Christmas.

It was former Bridport man Adam Symes who could have given Sports an early lead after just one minute but he hit his shot straight at the keeper.

Sturminster settled the better in the opening exchanges however, and took an early lead on eight minutes when a curling shot from the edge of the box by Elliott Eavis found the top corner.

The away side regrouped however, and started to gain some momentum. Richard Beasley and Brandon Heal were a threat on the right flank all afternoon and it was Beasley who crossed for Butler to equalise after 15 minutes, with a clever finish from the edge of the box.

Sports were on top at this point and forced a corner. Amor took it and the ball fell to Beasley five yards out, his shot went in off a post to give Sports a 2-1 lead. The visitors then had keeper Sam Turner to thank, as he saved two one-on-ones.

Dorchester started the second half the brighter and, again, it was the right flank pairing of Beasley and Heal that caused the home side problems. The latter went through again but his shot hit a post.

Dorchester did then add a third when Ashley White’s pass found Beasley, who again crossed for Butler and he made no mistake from 10 yards out to seal the game.

James said: “To get that first win after Christmas is great really and sets us up nicely for the second part of the season.

“In the first 10 minutes we were second best but, after we got the first goal, we settled and I thought we controlled the game pretty well.”

He added: “Brandon Heal and Richard Beasley were unbelievable down the right-hand side. We got in down the right so often and Brandon from right-back didn’t stop running for the whole game.”

Sports: Turner, Gatehouse, Amor, Lochrie, Heal, White, Pashen (Samways 60) Beasley, A Symes, Butler, J Symes (De La Haye 72)