Sturminster Marshall 5 Swanage Town and Herston 1  

Paul Maitland, Ryan Mole, Graham Duff, Craig MacLeod, John Elliot, Mark Henning, Phil Sweetland, Ross Humphrey, Rob Morley, Darrell Williams, Fedja Selimovic, Gareth Thomas, Will, Danny Bagg

Stur goalscorers:  Jon Elliot, Phil Sweetland, Darrell Williams, Gareth Thomas, Ross Humphrey

Stur star man: Mark Henning

The early evening kick-off didn't allow either side much time to prepare for this sunny DPL encounter.   This was a big game, with both sides looking to improve upon their respective league positions in the remaining games available.

Once the match commenced, Stur started brightly and raced into an early 1-0 lead thanks to the powerful and dynamic left back, Jon Elliot.  As the Swanage defenders looked for an offside decision that never came, Stur players flooded past the Swanage backline.  The young Scot raced from left back into the Swanage goal area and when the ball arrived to him, finished cooler than Bowmer's post match Bacardi.

The lead was short lived and within minutes Stur were caught with a counterattack.  A ball from the left found Swanage's Richard Sands who with too much time and space, finished well from the edge of the area to make the score 1-1.  After the equaliser, the game started to open up with both sides having good chances.  The Stur midfield started to dominate with Mark Henning and Rob Morley providing excellent width, and the elusive Stur front pairing of Darrell Williams and Fedja Selimovic working hard.     

Swanage started to get slightly on top in the last 10 minutes of the half, with Maitland continuing his good form between the sticks to deny any goal bound efforts.  The Stur defence did well to resist this pressure and in the last 5 minutes of the half, a swift Stur attack caused havoc in opposing penalty area allowing Sweetland to score.  After a cross from the impressive Henning, Sweetland pounced on the poor clearance to strike a 25 yard effort into the top right of the net.  Stur led again 2-1.  An unfortunate injury to Rob Morley meant he could no longer continue, and on came Gareth Thomas in a straight swap.                      

After a quick half-time break, the second 45 commenced and started just as the first half finished.  The first keeper to be tested was Maitland, who made a fine save to deny the onrushing attacker.  This provided the catalyst for Stur to up their game and soon after Stur's lead should have been extended after a host of chances went begging.  Having previously missed an open goal from 2 yards, Gareth Thomas made amends by latching onto a cross from Ryan Mole and giving the keeper no chance with a low drive.  Stur led 3-1.   

Stur continued to dominate, playing good football and keeping the ball for large periods of time.  The Swanage players, who were playing their 5th game in 10 days understandably started to look tired and beaten as Stur continued to surge forward and create chances. 

A smart finish from Williams made the score 4-1 to Stur.  After a goal line clearance from a Stur corner, the ball was chipped back into the danger area and Williams did well to beat his man, sending his header into the bottom of the net.  With the game in a comfortable position Stur replaced Fedja and Darrell, with young Will (his debut) and Danny who both played well. 

The lead was extended with 10 minutes to go.  The hardworking Humphreys beat the offside trap, getting to the ball before the onrushing keeper and calmly passing the ball into the unguarded net to make the score 5-1.