HAMWORTHY REC 1 CHICKERELL UNITED 1
(Chickerell won 6-5 on penalties)
GOALKEEPER Ashley Weeks was the hero for Chickerell United as they won a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out at Magna Road to claim a place in the Dorset Premier League Cup final.
After both teams wasted chances to win the tie, both in open play and from the spot, it was left to the two keepers to decide the replay and Weeks ensured it was the Chickens that progressed by hammering home his penalty and then saving the next one from his opposite number.
The dramatic finale came after Liam Beads had opened the scoring for the visitors on four minutes only to see his effort cancelled out in the second half, moments before United defender Scott Henley received a second yellow card and was ordered off the field.
At that stage it looked like the game had swung in Rec’s favour but the ten-men of Chickerell displayed fantastic character and in the end deserved their spot in the final where a mouth-watering clash against local rivals Portland United awaits.
Winning boss Maurice Welch said: “It was a very good game. Rec are a good side but neither team really created that many chances in the first half.
“We held on to the lead until 75 minutes when they got what was probably a deserved equaliser even though it was a bit fortunate as it came from a cross that looped over Ashley.
“We then had Scott sent off with seven minutes remaining following a second booking.
“The first one was for a bit of backchat to the referee while the second one was a clear foul so really there could be no argument.
“They immediately got on top after that and it was backs to the wall stuff at times but we kept battling away and in extra-time we got back into it.
“However, no one could find a winner so it went to a shoot-out which at one stage we led 3-2.
“That gave Ben Coltart a chance to win it for us but he missed and in the end it went down to the two keepers.
“Ashley stepped up and scored one of the best penalties of the bunch before he then saved the next one to hand us victory.”
Chickerell looked full of confidence when Beads headed in a corner in the opening stages but they were unable to double their tally and in the second half Rec turned up the pressure.
The hosts eventually equalised through Ashley Boyt and when Henley received his marching orders it looked like the tide was turning against the Chickens but their determination and inspirational keeper ensured they won through a nail-biting shoot-out.
Welch added: “Reaching the final is a fantastic achievement. We have put together a good run of form and I am as pleased as punch with every one of them. They deserve this place in the final.”
Chickerell: A Weeks, Henley, Biles, L Weeks (Daniels 95), Welch, Miles (Evans 95), Hall, Sibley, Smith, White (Coltart 85), Beads. Sub not used: Graham.
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