DORCHESTER SPORTS 5

HAMWORTHY UNITED RES 3

DORCHESTER Sports delivered one of the best comebacks in their 16-history, recovering from 3-0 down to beat Hamworthy United Reserves 5-3 at the Avenue Stadium.

This was the perfect way to round off 2023 for Ashley James’ men, who now have back-to-back Dorset Premier League wins after beating Westland 4-2 last Saturday.

Sports are up to eighth in the table but had to do it the hard way.

In a game full of chances, Sports’ striker Joel Hewitt was denied in a one-on-one before Hamworthy were scuppered by a goalline clearance, Liam O’Shaughnessy clearing at the last second.

READ MORE: Dorchester Sports 4-2 Westland Sports - report

However, the Hammers began to run away with the match after Sports had a big penalty shout waved away.

The visitors scored three goals in quick succession to leave the home side in disbelief as strikes from Tymoteusz Famurat, Brandon Williams and Neemo Nixon gave them a blissful lead.

The hosts regrouped, though, and pulled one back as Hewitt supplied skipper Alex Godfrey for a tap-in just before half-time.

James made two enforces changes at half-time with the injured Todd Coombs and Owen Peart replaced by Josh Leake and Matt Groves.

And Groves made an immediate impact as he won the ball high up the pitch, found Hewitt and his cross allowed Godfrey to loop his header in.

Sports fancied the recovery mission now and Leake found Dan Sheehy who crossed for Hewitt to smash home an equaliser.

Leake was then involved again when he burst into the box to cross for Godfrey who completed his hat-trick to give Sports the lead for the first time, stunning the Hammers.

And substitute Dylan Ellis came on to make it 5-3 late on, rubbing salt in Hamworthy's wounds.

There was still time for Ellis to win a penalty after being tripped in the box but Groves’ spot-kick was saved in added time.

Nevertheless, this was a highly satisfactory victory for James and Sports after being 3-0 down.

He told Echosport: “We’re playing well and it’s nice to get another win towards the end of the year.

“The way we did it can prove we’ve got a lot of character. That’s something I’ve been looking for for a while.

“I don’t think we’ve come back like that for a long time. You don’t ever want to be 3-0 down but if you are able to pull it back the way we did, then it shows massive character.

“That’s a positive thing going forward with this group of players.”

Sports next visit Poole Borough in the league on Saturday (2pm).

Sports: Duncalf, J Steele, O’Shaughnessy, Streamer, Browne, Brumble (Read 80), Coombs (Leake 46), O Peart (Groves 46), Godfrey, Hewitt (Swain 85), Sheehy (Ellis 70).