UPWEY & BROADWEY 3

BEAMINSTER 1

BEAMINSTER ended the season with a 3-1 away defeat at the hands of Upwey & Broadwey, finishing bottom of the Dorset Senior League table.

Neil Holt’s Rainbows needed a point to leapfrog Dorchester Sports Reserves and guarantee their status for next season but must now wait for the league’s verdict.

They could yet be spared relegation due to movement in other divisions.

Beaminster have played one game fewer than their rivals this season after the postponement of their match at champions Bisterne.

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That fixture was voided with no points awarded to either side. Should Beaminster be relegated, they will surely point to that game as a missed chance to earn the crucial point.

Knowing their task at Monmouth Avenue, the rainbows started well and had the better of the opening exchanges with Noah and Isaac House both causing problems down the flanks.

Upwey, who were much strengthened to when the Rainbows inflicted a 7-1 defeat on them a couple weeks earlier, started to find gaps in the Beaminster midfield and created a few chances of their own.

After 30 minutes an unfortunate injury to striker Michael Calverley forced Holt into making the first substitution with Charlie Pomeroy coming on.

Beaminster then opted for a change in tactical positions and Isaac House, now operating through the middle, found himself in front of goal to score a 20-yard curler into the top corner for a 1-0 half-time lead.

However, Upwey produced a wondergoal in the 61st minute as Oscar Preece’s long-distance strike sailed past the helpless Murray Legg.

Seconds later, the wind was really blown out of the Rainbows’ sail when Legg’s drop kick and subsequent misjudgement from Harry Angel let Preece in for 2-1.

The Rainbows knew a point was needed and so threw everything at Upwey and felt maybe a penalty should have been awarded for a foul on Isaac House, only for the officials to wave play on.

The final nail in Beaminster’s coffin came when Upwey played the ball wide on the left only for Ross Walden’s cross to beat everyone and fly into the net.

Post-match, manager Holt was full of praise and thanked his players for their efforts during the season.

Holt said: “I know it’s going to be hard work to keep all the players but this is a talented bunch of lads. If they stick together good times are not far away.”