DORCHESTER SPORTS 0

STURMINSTER NEWTON 2

DORCHESTER Sports were unusually quiet in front of goal as Sturminster Newton United claimed a 2-0 victory to maintain their title push in the Dorset Premier League.

The Cherries’ victory at the Avenue Stadium keeps them in touch with leaders Blandford United, while Sports occupy ninth with numerous games in hand.

Sports began brightly and created a glimpse of goal as Joel Hewitt flicked Dan Sheehy’s left-wing cross straight into Theo Crane’s gloves.

Sheehy worked Crane again, although without venom, when he took the ball beyond the Cherries’ left-back and fired at goal.

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Todd Coombs also tried his luck from range only for his effort to zip wide of Crane’s post.

However, Sturminster Newton took the lead when Billy Bright finished off a header back across goal to beat keeper Nick Hutchings for 1-0.

And the visitors made it 2-0 when Crane’s long clearance sailed over the middle of Sports’ defence and Will Guppy showed the desire to win possession and lob Hutchings.

In the second half, the contest was effectively a non-event as both teams struggled to create chances in a scrappy 45 minutes.

There were no major openings for either side as the match fizzled out, Crane and Hutchings not forced into any moments of stress.

Speaking to Echosport, Sports’ boss Ashley James said: “It was quite a tight game, there wasn’t many chances in it but they defended better than we did and took a couple of chances.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t create enough to be able to put them under any sort of pressure.

“From our point of view, it was a pretty lacklustre performance and one we’ll want to forget in a hurry.

“We put one of the strongest teams out we could’ve. We didn’t really get going and the two goals we conceded were pretty poor.

“I think we’d still be there now and I’m not sure we would’ve scored. It was disappointing.”

Sports now head to Raleigh Grove to tackle struggling Sherborne Town Reserves this evening (7.45pm), weather permitting.

James added: “We need to show a little bit more enthusiasm and fight, a little bit more quality in the final third.

“Hopefully we can put in a better performance. It depends what team they put out, they’ll be relishing these midweek games when their first team don’t have games.

“I’m sure it will be a much tougher game than we would’ve had normally.”

James will make wholesale changes as Sam Duncalf, Owen Peart, Rich Sands, Elliott Browne and Josh Leake are all set to feature.

Sports: Hutchings, Steele, Smith (Browne 80), Streamer (Sands 55), O’Shaughnessy, Coombs, Brumble (Magee 55), Ellis (Read 70), Sheehy (Taylor 80), Godfrey, Hewitt.