UPWEY & BROADWEY 3

WOOL UNITED 1

UPWEY & Broadwey claimed an emotional 3-1 win over Wool United in the Dorset League Division One encounter at Redlands.

Before kick-off, a minute’s silence was observed in remembrance of former Upwey player Ben Porteous, who died last week.

And the Weymouth side honoured their former team-mate with a superb victory that sees them occupy eighth in the table after eight games.

All the goalscoring was done in the first-half, Matt West setting Steve Reynolds’ men off perfectly with a goal after 15 minutes.

Willy Walden was the architect on the left-hand side, swinging in a cross for West, who side-footed home with aplomb into the corner, after taking a touch, to establish an early advantage for Upwey.

Tom Cherry then continued his fine form in front of goal, nodding a header in at the far post to record his ninth league goal in eight games this season.

Wool responded by breaking down Upwey’s left-hand side, as United had done with regularity during the game, getting in behind left-back Joe Walden.

Lewis Jordan then smashed a storming first-time effort beyond Harry Reynolds in the Upwey goal to halve the deficit.

Full-back Walden then escaped the hook at half-time by stepping out of defence and unleashing a 35-yard piledriver into the top corner to complete the scoring.

Charlie Allen then came on midway through the second half to help Upwey see out an important victory that moves the Weymouth-based side level on points with opponents Wool.

Speaking to Echosport after the game, Reynolds spoke of the respects paid to Porteous before praising his defensive unit.

He said: “We had a bit of emotion on the sideline. We had a minute’s silence for Ben, some of his family came up and there were about 10 of the lads who played for Upwey with him.

“This was another good win for us, three on the bounce and the old cliché of ‘a game of two halves’, which it certainly was. The scoreline was 3-1 at half-time and they threw everything at us.

“Fair play to the lads in the back four, they got bodies in the way. It wasn’t pretty, they got rid when they had to.

“Harry in goal, he moves them where he wants and they all listen to him, which is something we’ve been lacking in the past.

“First half we played some good stuff, second half we just did what we had to to win the game.”

Upwey & Broadwey: H Reynolds, R Walden, J Walden, Hanger, Sapsworth, Bill (Allen 63), Otton, Jarvis, W Walden, Cherry, West (Rangdale 63). Sub not used: S Walden