DORCHESTER SPORTS 1

STURMINSTER NEWTON UNITED 1

DORCHESTER Sports and Sturminster Newton United had to settle for a share of the points in their top-of-the-table Jewson Dorset Premier League battle at the Avenue Stadium.

The sides scored a goal apiece for a 1-1 draw, with all the scoring done in the first half before a second 45 littered with missed chances.

All three results could have been viable but the draw ensures both teams are locked on 32 points – an outcome arguably best for Westland Sports in third by three points with two games in hand.

Stur began brightly as the pacy Aaron Lane-Leney caused Sports problems, shooting wide in a one-on-one with Ash Green.

READ MORE: Dorchester Sports 5-1 Bridport Reserves - match report

Green was then called upon to tip Ash Clarke’s shot round the post before Alex Godfrey headed wide for Sports.

On 15 minutes, though, Godfrey would hit the target for 1-0 as Toby Read advanced down the right and supplied Godfrey to direct a finish beyond Cherries’ keeper Theo Crane.

With Sports now on top, Read blasted wide from range prior to the hosts’ cries for a penalty being ignored after Mo Hereka tumbled inside the area.

Sports then won a corner, but Crane caught with authority and quickly set the speedy Lane-Leney on the break.

He carved his way inside past Liam O’Shaughnessy and fired a deflected shot which looped over Green for 1-1 in the 37th minute.

If Sports had enjoyed the better of the first half, Cherries enjoyed the greater second during an end-to-end half.

Green was called upon to make three key saves as Lane-Leney and Elliot Bevis were both repelled.

At the other end, Godfrey’s dipping strike from distance was pushed clear by Crane and Sports’ star striker smacked the post, the ball darting across the face of goal to the safety of Crane’s gloves.

No further chances were created as the draw appeared the fair conclusion.

Sports’ boss Ashley James told Echosport: “It was an entertaining game, competitive. It could’ve gone either way.

“They probably had more chances but in the end a draw is probably a fair result. We take the point and move on to the next games.

“It went in spells, they were on top, then we were, then they were. It ebbed and flowed and both teams had chances to score.”

Sports now turn their attentions this Saturday (2pm) to an away trip to Sherborne Town Reserves, who lost 7-1 to Bridport Reserves at Raleigh Grove on Saturday.

Sports: Green, J Steele, Bessant, Browne (Taylor 75), O’Shaughnessy, Delves, Watts, Hereka, Read (West 60), Rossiter, Godfrey. Subs not used: Duncalf, Dovell, Heal.