CHICKERELL UNITED 4

TISBURY UNITED 1

CHICKERELL United continued their excellent start to the new Dorset Senior League season with a 4-1 victory over Tisbury United at the Stalls.

After scoring another four goals, the Chickens sit top after two games having reinforced an impressive 6-1 thumping of Dorchester Sports Reserves on the opening day.

Following that result, Tisbury might have been tempted to defend for large periods but a brave approach to the game proved their undoing for the first goal.

Chickerell absorbed a Tisbury corner, surged upfield and within three passes the hosts were in front as Neil Dewey’s cutback was turned into his own net by an unfortunate Tisbury defender on 25 minutes.

Tisbury continued to attack and were rewarded with a penalty 10 minutes later as Ben Miller’s air shot led to a bouncing ball which struck the Chickerell man’s arm, leading to the visitors’ equaliser.

Tisbury had managed to disrupt Chickerell’s usual high tempo but after the break Shaun Murphy’s men were improved despite both teams missing two half-chances.

The crucial breakthrough came in fortuitous circumstances on 70 minutes when Matt Stickland’s shot proved too hot for the visiting gloveman who fumbled his effort over the line.

Chickerell were now energised and five minutes later a Clayton Heath corner was buried into the net by Matt Harvey.

Late on, Nick Etherington completed the scoring to ensure Chickerell remain top on a plus-eight goal difference from Sturminster Marshall on plus-seven.

Speaking to Echosport, Chickens’ boss Murphy was satisfied with the victory amid a lacklustre first-half display.

He said: “It was a good three points at the end of the day. They slowed us down and stopped us playing our game a little bit.

“First-half I don’t think they had a gameplan but they slowed things down quite a lot. I thought it was a slow-paced game and it threw us off a bit because we’re quite fast tempo, from the front.

“It didn’t get going for 20 minutes, there wasn’t much going on with chances. I felt we lacked a bit of urgency.

“We had a bit of a chat at half-time. We weren’t playing badly, just not our usual tempo. Even the linesman said to me it felt like a pre-season game!

“Tisbury finished above us last season, so it was never going to be an easy game. It’s a great start for us.”

Chickerell next travel to Broadstone FC Seniors in league action on Saturday (3pm).

Chickens: Bickerstaff, Sandeman (Heggie 80), Miller, James (Carter 75), Heath, Ellis, Protheroe, Harvey, Dewey (Southorn 65), Stickland, Etherington.