DORCHESTER SPORTS RES 1

CHICKERELL UNITED 6

MATT Stickland scored a hat-trick and Joel Pretherol scored a stunning strike as Chickerell United returned to Dorset Senior League action with a 6-1 win over Dorchester Sports Reserves.

Nick Etherington and Dylan Ellis also scored and Pretherol rifled in a swerving shot from 35 yards for the Chickens, who conceded a late first-half penalty for a handball inside the box, which allowed the home side to grab what proved to be a consolation.

The Chickens started slowly, and were rusty, and Sports had a one-on-one opportunity which Chickerell goalkeeper Ian Bickerstaff did well to save.

The visitors grabbed a quick double after 15 minutes, as Etherington opened the scoring, before Ellis added another two minutes later, after breaks down the left.

Considerable breathing space was added when Pretherol fired in from 35 yards into the top corner after 30 minutes.

Stickland then grabbed his first of the afternoon as the Chickens went 4-0 up after 35 minutes.

The score was narrowed when Liam Miles miscontrolled a ball inside the box, which bounced up and hit his arm, handing Sports a penalty which they scored with 42 minutes on the clock.

The second half was a quieter affair, and Dorchester started brightly, but a double from

Stickland with efforts in the 60th and 80th minutes ensured a fantastic start to the season for Chickerell.

Chickerell boss Shaun Murphy told Echosport: “First game of the the season in a local derby if you like, it is a very good result I am very pleased with the result.”

Chickerell: Bickerstaff, Miller, Cracknell (James 70), Miles, Heath, Dewey (Sandeman 65), Pretherol (Heggie 80), Harvey, Ellis, Stickland, Etherington