DORCHESTER SPORTS 4

HAMWORTHY UTD RES 3

DORCHESTER Sports continued their fine form at their new home with a nail-biting 4-3 victory over Hamworthy United Reserves at the Avenue.

A brace from Jordan Butler saw the hosts peg back Hamworthy’s early opener from Russell Liston.

Jamie Symes added their third in the 50th minute before goals from Dan Pidgely and Asa Phillips saw the visitors draw level.

But, Symes drove home the winner five minutes before time to seal the win for the hosts.

Speaking after the game, Sports’ manager Ashley James said: “We were in complete control at 3-1, but we took our foot off the gas and suddenly it was 3-3.

“It was a bit nervy at the end but we managed to grab the winner.”

Despite the celebrations at the end of a thrilling encounter, it didn’t start well for the hosts.

A sloppy back pass allowed Liston to slip in and score in the ninth minute to give the away side the lead.

After the opener, it was the hosts who were on top.

They equalised just six minutes later as Butler headed home his first goal of the game from an Adam Steele free-kick.

He added his second in the 35th minute, this time netting from close range.

It was all Dorchester as the half ended, as chances came and went for the hosts.

But, it wasn’t until midway through the second half that they added their third. Symes rushed on to a long ball to head over the onrushing keeper. A Hamworthy defender tried to clear the ball as it headed towards goal, but only managed to give it more momentum as it trickled into the net.

Undeterred, Hamworthy got a goal back from a set play. It was Pidgely who rifled home a free-kick from 20 yards, before Phillips produced a remarkable solo run to level the game with 11 minutes to play.

With the game on a knife edge, both teams tried to net the decisive seventh goal and it was the hosts who snatched the

winner.

From a corner, the ball fell to Symes on the edge of the box to rifle home his shot and send his team-mates into raptures.

James added: “Butler is a poacher, but we haven’t been supplying him.

“It was nice to see him scoring and he is one of the best finishers in the league, we just needed to supply him.”

Next up for Sports is a trip to the north of the county when they face Gillingham Town Reserves on Saturday (3pm).

Sports: Peart, Heal (Boucher 75), Lochrie, Read, Lewis, Critchel, White. J Symes, Beasley, Butler (A Symes 65), Steele (Morgan 60). Subs not used: None