CHICKERELL UNITED 6

WINCANTON TOWN RESERVES 2

CHICKERELL United boss Shaun Murphy joked that his team “didn’t start as fast” as normal in their 6-2 Dorset Senior League win over bottom side Wincanton Town Reserves at the Stalls.

The Chickens were 3-0 up in 17 minutes compared to last week’s scoreline of 4-0 after 20 minutes in their 8-2 thumping of Poole Borough.

But Steve Welch notched his second consecutive hat-trick which, allied to a James Handsford brace and a Matt Stickland goal, preserved United’s 100 per cent record this term.

Speaking to Echosport, Murphy praised his side for playing some “really nice football” in the opening half.

“We didn’t start as fast as we normally start!” Murphy said. “But Steve scored after 11 minutes, then after 15 minutes James scored and Matt scored on 17 minutes.

“They played some really nice football but we played it straight to their striker and they made it 3-1. That cost us a little bit, but it’s my fault for asking them to play from the back.”

Welch got his second in the 49th minute before Wincanton responded immediately to make it 4-2.

There was no stopping Welch though, and he duly completed his treble on 65 minutes before Handsford struck a penalty to finish the scoring.

Commenting on Welch’s form, Murphy revealed that a change in position from last season “seems to work” for the striker.

He said: “That’s two hat-tricks in a row, he’s a very good player. He had been playing in defence but for me I thought I’d put him up front and it seems to work.

“He should have scored after two minutes but he missed a header. After scoring three I won’t complain about that.”

And Murphy said his team had been encouraged by the “good response” from the village, who have turned out in numbers to support the Chickens.

He said: “We have had a good response from the village. The support they’ve given us is really good, it’s great for the community at the moment.”

Chickens: Bickerstaff, Collins, Miles, Rogers, Richards (Heath 70), Handsford, Howey, Etherington, Dewey (Bill 65), Stickland, Welch (Terry 80)