DORCHESTER SPORTS 4

WESTLAND SPORTS 1

DORCHESTER Sports got back to winning ways at the Avenue, with a comfortable 4-1 home win over Westland Sports.

The home side started the game very well, playing at a high intensity and putting Westland under pressure.

Westland struggled to deal with Sports’ attacking play down the flanks, Dorchester’s Lewis Amor enjoyed plenty of joy in his new role on the wing and he helped the hosts take the lead on 10 minutes.

Amor put in a dangerous delivery which led to a scramble in the Westland box, a failed attempt of a clearance led to the ball dropping to Sam Pashen, who coolly put the ball into the top corner.

Sports continued to attack and used the wide areas well.

A move down the left led to another Amor cross, which was headed over by Jamie Rawlings, but the hosts still held the lead at the break.

Sports struggled to get anything going at the beginning of the second period and the away side’s pressure almost paid off when Danny Critchel brought down a Westland attacker to give the visitors a penalty.

Up stepped a Westland forward who saw his spot-kick and follow up saved by Sports’ keeper Sam Turner.

With regular boss Ashley James unavailable, manager for the day Andy Mallet then had to ponder what to do with just 10 men, as centre-back Jason Read was sent off for his second yellow card of the game.

Stand-in boss Mallet made some changes to the shape Sports were playing, and the call paid off.

On 65 minutes, a Brandon Heal free-kick fell to Rawlings, who slotted home to make it 2-0.

Sports were back in control of the game at this point and a third goal came in quick succession.

Heal and Rawlings again linked up down the right, with Rawlings cutting in and beating his defender to pick out the run of Jamie Symes, who smashed the ball into the top corner.

Another combination between Heal and Rawlings down the right led to Rawlings cutting in again and beating two defenders, before picking out Luke Gatehouse at the far post.

He curled the ball past the Westland keeper into the top corner for 4-0.

Sports made a couple of late changes to replace tired legs and gave minutes to Billy Brumble and debutant Hayden Taylor.

Westland did manage to pull a goal back late on but it was not to matter as the county town side sealed a valuable three points.

Boss Mallet said: “I thought first half we played the perfect half, they couldn’t deal with our play and we should have gone in more than one up, but myself and the players were happy with the half as we were very comfortable.

“In the second half, we struggled to get going until the penalty save and the sending off, which seemed to kick us into life in the second half.

“I came in with a game plan and, to be fair to the lads, they executed it very well and we got the three points we deserved.”

Regular boss James also took the time to thank Mallet for his contribution.

He added: “To come out 4-1 winners was a fantastic result.

“I’d like to thank Andy for taking the team and Steve Churchill for taking the reserves. How well they are both doing is a credit to them both.”

Sports: Turner, Heal, Lochrie, Read, Gatehouse, Rawlings, White, Critchel, White, Amor, Pashen, Symes. Subs: Brumble, Taylor, Butler, Bagwell