MERLEY COBHAM SPORTS 2

DORCHESTER SPORTS 2

DORCHESTER Sports stormed back from 2-0 down to earn a point against rivals Merley Cobham Sports in the Jewson Dorset Premier League.

While a point against Merley could be huge in the context of the season, Ashley James’ men now trail promotion enemies Hamworthy Rec by eight points.

This battle of second versus third lived up to the billing as both sides displayed their quality.

Dorchester Sports started stronger of the two, with Jamie Symes influential in midfield, but the Merley engine room then began to fire and by the 15-minute mark were dominant.

READ MORE: Dorchester Sports 6-0 Hamworthy United Reserves - match report

Away keeper Nick Hutchings was forced into a good save from ex-Bridport striker Elliot Rossiter but the stopper was culpable for the first Merley goal on 25 minutes as Josh Buck’s cross-shot drifted into the far corner.

Merley doubled their lead 10 minutes before the break when Ellis George powered a header past Hutchings at the far post.

James opted to bring off Nick Voss for Jamie Quinton at half-time and the move helped change the momentum of the game as the visitors halved the deficit.

Unsurprisingly, their route back into the game came via top scorer Alex Godfrey who controlled on his chest before slamming a shot past Merley keeper Aaron Robertson for his 16th goal in 17 league games.

And four minutes later another substitute, Bailey McNamara, got Sports back level with a composed finish from 15 yards.

Merley piled on the pressure in the closing stages through Buck and Rossiter to no avail, leaving league leaders Ham Rec the real winners on the day.

Speaking to Echosport, James said: “The first half was disappointing. The way we played wasn’t good enough.

“We said to the lads at half-time that we had 45 minutes to prove we were a good side and luckily we got a response. We’ll settle for a 2-2 draw.

“The character in the second half was brilliant but the first-half performance was disappointing. In the end, we’ve got to be happy with a point.

“We just didn’t compete and battle, we weren’t brave enough on the ball. We made a change at half-time, needed a response and we got it.

“We had to otherwise they would’ve been licking their lips playing against us in the two semi-finals if we played like we did in that first half.”

Dorchester Sports are locked in third on 50 points with Merley occupying second on goal difference, 23 goals better off.

Dorchester Sports: Hutchings, J Steele, O’Shaughnessy, Bessant, Tennant, Brumble, Symes (Heal 85), G Will, Godfrey, Gosney (McNamara 60), Voss (Quinton 46).