10h April 2010

Dorset Premier League

Chickerell Utd 1  Sturminster Marshall 1 

Stur travelled to title chasing Chickerell and came home with a deserved point from an entertaining game.

The visitors created a decent chance in the first minute, Darrell Williams firing narrowly wide from the edge of the box, but the home side took the early initiative and Stur keeper Andy Knights had a busy time. Knights kept his side in the game when he made a tremendous double save, parrying one shot and recovering quickly to block the follow up before Sean Griffiths hacked clear. The Stur stopper had no chance when Chickerell took the lead after twenty minutes, Doige having time to pick his spot before firing home.

HT: 1-0

Chickerell had certainly had the better of the first half, but whatever manager Matt Morris said to his side at half time had the desired effect. The visitors began to play with confidence and, with Danny Neville prompting from the back, began to create problems for the home side who began to look vulnerable for the first time.

The equaliser came after 68 minutes and was well deserved. Gareth Thomas chased down a lost cause and pressured a defender into conceding a corner. The corner was swung over by Washington Gwenzi and Joe Wood headed against the bar. The keeper could only parry Tim Littler's follow up and Scott Thomas was on hand to score.

The home side began to show a real sense of urgency after this, but Stur defended well and held on for a deserved point.