PORTLAND TOWN 4

CHICKERELL UNITED 5

CHICKERELL United fought from three goals down to win a pulsating Dorset Senior Trophy first-round clash 5-4 deep into injury-time.

Missing six regulars, Portland struggled from the off to find any sort of rhythm or tempo.

One Town player not suffering was Tom Cherry who made a series of raids down the left causing early problems for the Chickens. Unfortunately, the final ball was lacking and the visitors quickly moved players around to contain him.

At the other end, Derek Wall got the first shot on target, turning sharply but Ben Tyrell smothered his effort. Portland went straight up the other end and won a corner and from it Rob Townley headed Callum Norman's delicious cross home from six yards.

READ MORE: Dorchester Sports Reserves 0-4 Portland Town - match report

The next ten minutes saw the hosts misplace pass after pass and struggled to pick up their men in key moments. There were no clear cut chances but Wall was beginning to cause menace and on 17 minutes a poor Ric Martins clearance fell to Matt Stickland who hit the bar from 20 yards.

Chickerell rued their luck as, clearly the better team on the day, they let in Town again as Norman crossed for Leon Attree to bury a header on 23 minutes.

With the Chickens' heads wobbling, Will Turland saw an effort blocked on the line and Gary Harvey shot over from the rebound.

On 30 minutes Portland produced a lovely move, again Cherry tormenting the visiting full back and this time his composed cross picked out Norman who wrapped home a volley at the far post for 3-0.

Town pressed for more goals as Harvey saw an effort saved by Chickerell's Ian Bickerstaff and soon after Turland failed to play in Cherry for a two-on-one.

It was Town now regretting their profligacy as Chickerell gained a foothold in the game.

Town partially cleared a corner, Stickland, the best player on show in the first period crossed and centre back Shane James was still in the box to fire home.

Chickerell tasted blood, Wall flashed a cross along the six-yard line with no one to finish, Dylan Ellis failed to finish a knock down from six yards and then James hit the bar from a corner as they finished with a flourish.

Chickerell had already got themselves within a goal just after the hour, a long throw from Wall was flicked on and Martins, making his full debut, fell asleep at the far post allowing Nick Etherington to steal in and head home for 3-2.

As the minutes rolled on, Ellis had a goal ruled out for offside on 73 minutes and Stickland then brought a smart save from Tyrell.

Wall then deservedly snatched an equaliser, beating Pat Byatt to the ball, brushing him aside and sneaking an effort just inside the post on 87 minutes.

Town's legs had gone now and Chickerell went after the winner.

It was deep into a mad period of injury time when the next came as Tom Garbutt played in the somehow unmarked Wall who neatly finished for 4-3.

On 96 minutes Chickerell sealed the win, George Christopher losing possession 20 yards out and Wall teed up Jack Critchell in a chasm of space to drive past Tyrell.

Straight from kick-off Christopher linked with Driver to release Cherry who made no mistake to reduce the deficit to 5-4 but the final whistle followed shortly after after a full eight minutes of added time.

Town manager Kieron Neilson-Howes said: "The lads did all they could, it sounds like excuses but we did well to get a team out and the lads that played under the weather have been thanked for their efforts.

"We just needed a couple of players to shore it up a bit in key areas and we didn't have that at our disposal.

"It was a good game though, a proper cup clash against a local rival and Chickerell showed good character to come back, we just didn't have it in the tank."

Portland host fourth-placed Wincanton Reserves in the Dorset Senior League at Milborne on Saturday (3pm).

Kyle Critchell, Jordon Moore, Mark Lambert, Steve Lambert, Charlie Jones and Joe Watters all come back into contention while Craig Mitchell and Danny Clifford are likely to get much needed minutes in the reserves after lengthy lay-offs.

Town: Tyrell, H Mitchell (Driver), Martins, Attree, Byatt, Townley, Harvey, Norman, Cherry, Turland (Richens), Christopher.

CBA Scaffolding man of the match: Tom Cherry