PARLEY SPORTS 6 CHICKERELL UNITED 0

BOSS Steve Coward admitted Chickerell United’s lack of game time so far this term has made it difficult to keep his side motivated for action.

Playing their first competitive game since October 24, the Chickens saw the defence of their Dorset Senior Trophy well and truly come to an end as they were hit for six at Parley Sports on Saturday.

Coward’s side, who did have an early shout for a penalty turned down while the score was goalless in their second round trophy tie, were put to the sword by a Dorset Premier League outfit that has clocked up more than double the amount of minutes in league action than themselves so far this term.

“It just showed we haven’t played for so long,” the Chickens’ boss told Echosport.

“They were sharper and were better than us across the park.

“You look at the DPL and how many games they have played. We are in the league lower and we have played just five games in the league.

“There is not a lot I can do about it.”

The tie itself had to be played at the third time of asking, having been postponed twice due to a waterlogged pitch.

The recent weather, coupled with sides not being able to raise a team against Coward’s troops, has left the Stalls manager highly irritated.

“It’s really frustrates me,” he added.

“Every week the lads are just waiting for a phone call from me to say ‘sorry we haven’t got a game’.

“These lads and myself have started training in the second week of July, which is the summer holidays. It’s your time with your family and kids.

“We have played five league games so far and you think ‘what is the point of doing all that work and putting in all that effort when you aren’t playing football?’

“You might as well be a fitness club, not a football club. It’s just crazy.”

He added: “It’s just a case of trying to keep everyone interested and, if I’m honest, I am struggling myself.

“Some teams haven’t turned up to play against us and things like that.

“Everyone works hard five days a week and it comes to a Saturday and you have to find something else to do.”

Chickerell’s next test is a scheduled trip to Sturminster Newton Utd on Saturday (3pm).

Chickens: Bickerstaff, Stewart (C Tennant), S Welch, Miles, Boatswain, Harvey, Jarvis, Rawlings (Nwakalze), Etherington, Hansford (Ryan), White.