DORCHESTER SPORTS 16

STURMINSTER MARSHALL 0

DORCHESTER Sports brushed Sturminster Marshall aside 16-0 at the Avenue Stadium in their Dorset Premier League encounter.

Marsh have endured a well-documented struggle this season, losing numerous key players before initiating a rebuilding process.

The east Dorset side have won many admirers for their decision to keep playing in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Dorset Premier League seasons in years.

And, while this defeat signalled a 20th straight league loss combined with a minus 204 goal difference, the Marsh did hold Sports for 25 minutes.

READ MORE: Dorchester Sports 3-2 Sherborne Town Reserves - report

To the shock of the hosts, Marshall could and should have taken the lead when goalkeeper Nick Hutchings was rounded, only for the ball to cruelly stick in the forward’s feet allowing Hutchings to block the eventual effort.

Sports then forced the Stur goalkeeper into three big saves and the deadlock was finally broken in the 25th minute when Joel Hewitt headed in Alex Godfrey’s corner.

The floodgates were suddenly open as Godfrey scored in the 27th minute and Dylan Ellis bagged for 3-0 fewer than 60 seconds later.

Hewitt claimed his second in the 35th minute before Ellis and Hewitt again netted within 60 seconds of each other, the latter clinching his hat-trick for 6-0.

Dan Sheehy rounded off the flurry of goals before half-time, hitting Sports’ seventh in the 45th minute.

Sheehy needed only two minutes of the second half to make it 8-0, before Hewitt took his stunning tally to six with a nine-minute burst of three goals.

He was replaced on the hour by Brandon Heal after suffering with cramp, but Sports continued to find the back of the net and Godfrey added his second on 70 minutes for 12-0.

Owen Peart got in on the act and Sheehy completed his hat-trick before the goal of the game from Godfrey, the striker controlling deftly and beating three defenders before using the outside of his foot to bend a sublime finish into the top corner.

Sheehy completed the scoring with his quadruple in the 90th minute as the hosts sealed their fourth victory in five league matches.

Speaking to Echosport, home boss Ashley James said: “To be fair to them, they had a good go for 25 minutes, which I think is pleasing for them.

“They have found it tough this year, so for them to keep going is really credible.

“After the first goal, we never really looked back and some of the football we played was brilliant. The goals we scored were really good.

“A good afternoon but one that we were expected to win.”

Sports next visit Bridport Reserves on Saturday (2pm).

Dorch Sports: Hutchings, Steele (Pratt 55), Coombs, Browne (Streamer 80), O’Shaughnessy, Brumble (Sands 80), O Peart, Godfrey, Sheehy, Ellis, Hewitt (Heal 60).