WINCANTON TOWN RES 2

CHICKERELL UNITED 5

A MATT Stickland double helped Chickerell United to a 5-2 victory over Wincanton Town Reserves to seal a fourth-placed finish in the Dorset Senior League.

Goals from Dan Welch, Nick Etherington and a brilliant solo effort from Dylan Ellis saw the Chickens well on their way to victory before Stickland’s late double.

Scott Evans and Patrick Golden netted the two goals for Wincanton, which proved to be a consolation.

Luke Southorn made his debut for the depleted Chickens, who only had 11 players for the contest.

Chickerell started off well against Wincanton, who also only had 11 men in their squad, with success on the flanks through Neil Dewey and Ellis.

Stickland had two early chances but the Chickens opened the scoring after 25 minutes, when Dan Welch nodded in a Etherington free-kick at the far-post.

After 35 minutes, Etherington grabbed a second for the Chickens to double their lead.

Stickland had further chances but the Chickens went in at the break 2-0 up.

Wincanton improved hugely in the second half, and got one back after 55 minutes when a shot took a wicked deflection and beat Ian Bickerstaff in the Chickerell goal.

Bickerstaff then had to be alert to make a fantastic save to deny Wincanton an equaliser.

Ellis grabbed a third to restore the two-goal lead for Chickerell when cut in and smashed in from 20 yards.

Stickland then added a late double as Chickerell made it 5-1 with 10 minutes to go and heading for a superb victory.

Some good football allowed Wincanton to play a ball through the middle, which was raced on to and dispatched past Bickerstaff to finish the scoring.

Chickerell boss Shaun Murphy said: “Considering we went up there with 11 men, we had a debutant in Luke (Southorn) who played very well, to be honest.

“We had to dip into the youth section so it was a great result really.

Reflecting on the season as a whole, Murphy said: “Overall (I am) pretty satisfied I guess.”

“It has been one of those seasons, lots of games we have played really well, a lot of games we have been up against it player wise.

“I think that is what has let us down the most this season, consistency of players.”

Chickerell host Tisbury United in their final game of the season today (3pm).

Chickerell: Bickerstaff, Pryce, Southorn, D Welch, McCarthy, Dewey, Harvey, Carter, Ellis, Etherington, Stickland

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