ALDERHOLT 0

UPWEY & BROADWEY 1

UPWEY & Broadwey surged to the top of the Dorset League Division One table with a 1-0 victory at Alderholt.

Steve Reynolds’ men inched one point above Bisterne United in the standings after league top-scorer Oscar Preece’s 64th-minute winner – his 11th goal in seven matches.

However, for large periods of the game, Reynolds will have wondered if the three points were going to escape the Weymouth side as they did everything but score.

Upwey dominated possession in the opening 30 minutes but could not force the issue enough to opening the scoring.

That was until striker Derek Wall was hauled down in the area by the Alderholt goalkeeper for a penalty.

Skipper Matt Roberts stepped up to take the spot-kick, only to clatter his effort against the post as Alderholt survived.

READ MORE: FA confirms promotions and relegations - affecting Dorset's top clubs

Upwey made contact with the woodwork again when Joe Walden, pushed further up than usual on the wing, cut inside and unleashed a stunner which grazed the far post.

After the break, Upwey’s frustrations grew as Jack Summers had a goal scrubbed away for offside.

Marcus Biles was working tirelessly in midfield, while the commanding presence of Roberts at centre-back gave Upwey the platform to grab the winner.

It came via the spot as Preece this time was felled in the box before taking responsibility to blast the penalty home.

But for the agility of Harry Reynolds, Alderholt would have scored as the goalkeeper flung himself to superbly keep out a shot destined for the top corner.

Upwey & Broadwey then saw out the game to earn their sixth victory of the season.

Speaking to Echosport, boss Steve Reynolds spoke of his relief at finally scoring.

He said: “I must admit, by then, I was relieved to see it go in. I thought we were going to go there without winning.

“It’s a long old drag down to Alderholt and I can quite see how they drew with Bisterne the week before.

“They frustrated us, every time the ball went out of play they didn’t let us get in a rhythm.

“The keeper was so slow putting it on the line, to the point where I put one of the subs behind the goal to throw the ball back and hurry him up.

“That didn’t really work. They’re a rough and tumble side. It didn’t make for a great game of football but we definitely deserved to win it.

“We dominated most of the game without their keeper diving all over the place.”

Upwey: H Reynolds, R Walden, Roberts, Sowerby, Pipe, Summers, Biles, Allen, J Walden, Wall, Preece. Subs not used: J Sapsworth, Norman, Habtu.