WESTLAND SPORTS RES 5

CHICKERELL UNITED 0

CHICKERELL United suffered their second successive defeat with a comprehensive 5-0 loss away at Westland Sports Reserves in the Dorset Senior League.

A Rory Thomson brace plus Charles Gay, Liam Stobbs and substitute Isaac Storey goals inflicted the defeat on Chickerell, but Chickens’ boss Shaun Murphy did not feel that it was a fair reflection of the game.

The Chickens were heavily depleted, with manager Murphy having only seven players on the Friday, but managing to field a starting 11, albeit with no players on the bench.

Chickerell started the match well, effectively maintaining possession but struggled to create much beyond half chances.

Chickerell goalkeeper Ian Bickerstaff was on hand to make two really good saves to keep out efforts from Westland Sports.

However, Westland were able to craft something to take the ball into the back of the net.

It came after a corner half an hour into the game. Chickerell cleared the initial ball in, but it got recycled and put back into the box where the ball was scrambled in at the back post.

Chickerell missed a penalty in the first half when Neil Dewey was fouled inside the box, but Matt Stickland rattled the bar.

The second half saw the Chickens tire and Westland took advantage to double their lead after 65 minutes, despite Bickerstaff getting a hand on the effort.

The tired Chickens’ legs went, and passes began to go astray as defending became harder.

After 75 minutes, a free-kick saw Westland further add to their tally, before two late goals completed the 5-0 rout.

Chickerell boss Murphy said: “It was a bit of a nightmare. On Friday I only had seven players, with nine unavailable, so I had to call a few of the reserves and a couple of players who have not played for a long time to make up the numbers.

“The first 75 minutes we were alright, we were in the game, it was only 2-0 and then we just capitulated at the end, we just fell apart. Tired legs and most people had not played for some time so it was understandable. If we had had some subs maybe I think it would have been a different result. I don’t think 5-0 was a fair reflection of the game if I am honest.”

Chickerell host Broadstone on Saturday (3pm).

Chickerell: Bickerstaff, Heggie, Daniels, Miller, Coles, Ackerman, Harvey, McCarthy, Dewey, Price, Stickland.