PIDDLEHINTON RES 5

LYTCHETT & UPTON 2

PIDDLEHINTON Reserves secured the Dorset League Division Four league title with five games to spare following a jubilant 5-2 victory at home against Lytchett.

In the opening exchanges, there was a sense of nervousness on the pitch, with Piddlehinton struggling to reach the high performance level they have set themselves all season.

As a result, the home side found themselves a goal down after 20 minutes, as a defensive error left the opposition striker one-on-one with the keeper, leaving Toby Whiting no chance of saving in the Piddle net.

After falling a goal behind, the home side reacted brilliantly and started to relax and play with more freedom. This was ultimately the source of the equaliser, as a lovely passing move from defence to attack found its way to striker Adam Barrett, who was brought down inside the six-yard box and awarded a penalty.

Barrett stepped up himself, and coolly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to bring the scores level.

Five minutes later, history repeated itself after another passage of passing football from the home side, wing-back Josh Pashon crossed the ball into the box, which was blocked by a raised hand from a Lytchett defender, resulting in the ref awarding another penalty.

Again Barrett stepped up, and made no mistake in converting to score his second on the night.

At the half-time interval, co-manager Dan Mansley emphasised the point to stay relaxed and trust the Piddle formula which has worked all season, and this, alongside a shrewd substitution, resulted in the third and fourth goals for Piddle.

Firstly, Harry White found space inside the box, where he turned and curled a shot into the roof of the net, before centre-back Josh Richardson rose above his man from a corner to head home from close range for Piddle’s fourth.

Despite Lytchett battling back and scoring their second goal late on, it was Barrett who would have the last word, as he latched onto the end of Harry Ackerman’s cross to secure his fifth hat-trick of the season.

Piddlehinton United FC would like to thank Kit sponsors Hearn Roofing for their support throughout the season, and also the Victoria Hotel in Dorchester for their superb post-match hospitality.