Dorchester UNITED 3 WESTLANDS SPORTS 4 UNITED manager Kevin Hillier refused to let a little thing like defeat spoil the party on their return to the Dorset Premier League after a break of 30 years.
They went down in a seven goal thriller at Sandringham Sports Centre which saw the Yeovil side snatch the winner six minutes from time with United sub Steve Churchill denied a late leveller when his header was nodded off the goal-line by a defender.
"We would like to have got something out of it and we definitely deserved to," said Hillier. "But despite that it was a great afternoon with nearly a hundred spectators creating a great atmosphere.
" We knew it would be tougher in this league but if we carry on with that commitment and attitude we will hold our own."
Now faced with a fixture-free week after the withdrawal of Weymouth Sports, United's two training sessions this week will concentrate on sharpening up their defending at set-pieces.
"That is where they did us," said Hillier. "All four of their goals came from headers from free-kicks or corners. We were man marking until the ball was delivered and then we switched off and were left behind. But that is something we can improve on."
Regan Churchill put United in front after 10 minutes with a free-kick special from the edge of the area only for ex-Dorchester Town defender Matt Turner to level three minutes later.
Turner added another three minutes into the second period before ex-Magpies second team skipper Robbie Taylor finished of good work by Hillier and Yates with a firm drive from 18 yards.
Martin Baby restored Sports lead but former Bees veteran Richard Drake, a rock at the heart of United's defence, moved up to head in the equaliser from a 70th minute corner.
Chris Dailey put the visitors in front again in the 84th minute and it was cruel on United when Churchill's header was cleared by Turner with Westland's keeper beaten.
United: Smith, Drake, Budden, Voss, Legg (S Churchill), R Churchill, Cleal, Beale (Kemp), Taylor, Yates, Hillier. Sub not used Davis.
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