STOURPAINE 2 Easton UNITED 10

EASTON United took full advantage of their game in hand on Witchampton United to move two points clear at the top of the Dorset Senior League.

Leading marksman Grant Chance helped himself to four goals as the Portlanders hit double figures for the first time this campaign and took their overall goal tally to 76 from 19 games.

Winger Matt Burch also netted a hat-trick, Rory Palmer bagged a brace before Jordan Bowler grabbed number 10.

“We were absolutely ruthless, we really were,” said manager Chris Wilson. “Defensively we were solid again and our passing and movement going forward was frightening – there was some really intelligent movement.

“They couldn’t live with our pace out wide or with Chance up front. Sam Akoknia and Adam Skelton in the middle were fantastic and although Bryn Lewis didn’t get on the scoresheet he worked ever so hard.”

Palmer was the first to take advantage of Stourpaine’s high back-line and run clean through before beating the helpless home goalkeeper with just 10 minutes on the clock.

Chance followed that up five minutes later with his first of the afternoon, before bursting clear and clipping home United’s third midway through the half.

Burch raced on to Akoknia’s through pass and rounded the custodian to make it 4-0 at half-time, but there was no let up from the islanders in the second period.

Palmer doubled his tally within 120 seconds of the restart before Chance headed home his third from Terry Oldrid’s free-kick.

Winger Burch netted two more one-on-ones to complete his own hat-trick and make it 8-0.

He was substituted on the hour mark but replacement Bowler and top scorer Chance nudged the score into double figures.

Stourpaine did give themselves something to cheer about when netting twice in the last three minutes, but even that could not dampen Wilson’s spirits.

“That was slightly disappointing but I can’t be too critical of the boys,” he said. “We just sort of switched off, which I wasn’t too happy about, but you can’t complain when you’ve won 10-2.”

Easton’s boss was also disappointed with AFC West Moors’ decision to pull out of the league on Saturday, which forced the league to expunge their record.

However, it has had no impact on the Dorset Senior League title race, much to Wilson’s relief.

“Everyone has put so much work in that it could have descended into farce,” he said. “It’s happened the last two or three years now and luckily hasn’t affected us this year.”

Easton: Rutland, Kelly, Oldrid, Carlile, Williams, A Skelton (Wilson 82), Akoknia, Palmer, Burch (Bowler 60), Lewis, Chance.