Chickens rock Bees’ hopes of top-six spot (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Chickens rock Bees’ hopes of top-six spot

8:55am Wednesday 25th April 2012 in Local Sport By Adam Summers

BRIDPORT RESERVES 1 CHICKERELL UNITED 3

BRIDPORT Reserves’ hopes of a top-six finish in the Magna Dorset Premier League suffered a major setback at the hands of Chickerell United at St Mary’s Field on Saturday.

Jamie Morgan put the Bees in front just after the break but the Chickens hit back through goals from Nick Etherington (2) and Tom Peck to move seven points clear of their West Dorset rivals with just three games remaining.

First-team boss Trevor Senior, who took charge of the Bees in the absence of Steve Crabb and Mark Lock, said: “Chickerell deserved the win.

“We started brightly enough but as the game went on our passing began to go astray and in many ways I think it was perhaps one game too far.

“The reserves have played a lot of matches over the past couple of weeks and it was just a bit of a shame really but I cannot fault them because they have had a great season and shown a lot of promise.”

The game also witnessed several debatable decisions including a disallowed goal, a contentious offside call, two penalties and a late sending off.

Commenting on the key incidents, Senior added: “The ‘goal’ Chickerell scored in the first half should have stood. There was no foul on our keeper and we certainly got away with one there.

“Having said that though, in the build-up to that we should have had a throw-in but for some reason it was awarded to them instead.

“As for the opening goal, Dominic McAllister had the initial shot and Jamie did well to react but from where I was he did look offside.

“We should have gone on to make that count in our favour but instead Chickerell went on to control the rest of the game.

“The first penalty was a blatant foul by Carl Bulman while the second was given late on for a push by Jamie, which saw him receive a second yellow card.

“Lee Cleal dived the wrong way for the first one but made a good save to stop the second.”

The Bees have no game this weekend but will return to action next Tuesday when they are due to host Swanage Town & Herston (7.30pm).

Bees: Cleal, M Condliffe, C Bulman, Day (Evans 65), Peart, A Clarke, McAllister, Wise (R Condliffe 80), Morgan, Scovell (Hailu 70), B Clarke.

Chickens: Weeks, Walker (Curren 60), Lambert, D Welch, S Welch, Miles, Sibley, Peck, Preece, Etherington, Why. Sub not used: Robinson.