MERLEY 1

BLANDFORD UNITED 2

UNBEATEN Dorset Premier League leaders Blandford United beat Merley 2-1 for the third time this season to continue their charge for the title.

Merley’s Josh Buck brought the best out of Blandford keeper Sam Pike in the third minute and the Royals hit back immediately with Joe Coombes denying Mark Ford.

Merley enjoyed some success down their left flank and they took the lead in the 19th minute when Adam Hall found Buck, he in turn found Kingsley Eze-Sunday with a defence-splitting ball and the striker made no mistake hitting it across Pike.

Blandford responded when the impressive Joe Kempster got to the byline and cut the ball back to the unmarked Ford who made no mistake from eight yards.

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Eze-Sunday saw strong penalty appeals waved away in the 35th minute and the game appeared to be drifting into added-on time in the first half before a misplaced pass found Royals’ skipper Elliot Manson 30 yards out and he instinctively saw Coombes off his line and struck a stunner into the far corner of the net for 2-1.

The second half was just as competitive as the first and Harvey Elsom fired inches wide from 25 yards before Eze-Sunday went close with shot from distance in the 69th minute.

Blandford always looked dangerous on the break and especially from set pieces.

Chances were few and far between in the second period but Merley’s best chance to equalise came and went when Tawanda Manenji and Eze-Sunday combined but the Blandford defence managed to scramble the ball clear, helping clinch the three points.