Football: Chickerell keep in hunt for title with Allendale win

ALLENDALE 2

CHICKERELL United confidently saw off the challenge of Allendale on Saturday in their home clash in the Dorset Senior League, which keeps them in the hunt for the title.

The Chickens, who called up third-team players Marcus Heggie and Dylan Ellis after two pulled out shortly before the game, took the lead through James Hansford after 15 minutes but the away side equalised shortly after.

A Hansford penalty gave Chickerell the lead again before Nick Etherington ensured his side had a good cushion going into the break.

Not long after the restart, Allendale scored again to narrow their deficit.

Chickerell then pulled away as a brace from Matthew Stickland and a late goal from Steven Welch added real gloss to the scoreline.

Chickens’ boss Shaun Murphy said: “This was another good result, and we just need to keep going and hopefully we can keep it up.”

“I think with the way we’re going we are in a title race, I think the top three or four teams could potentially win it.

The result keeps Chickerell in second, four points and a game in hand on leaders Corfe Castle who they play on Saturday.

Going into top-of-the-table clash at the weekend, Murphy said: “We must do exactly the same, with the same attitude, same performance, same commitment, and just see how we feel at the end.”

Chickerell: Bickerstaff, Collins, Etherington, Hansford, Harvey, Miller, Rogers, Sandeman, Stewart, Stickland, Welch. Subs: Ellis, Heggie, Ryan