ADAM Dell fired a hat-trick as the Britannia returned to the Premier-ship summit with a sensational 4-3 victory at reigning champions the Belvedere to ensure the title race goes right to the wire.
The result at the Marsh was all the more stunning as the Portlanders were missing two of their most influential players in Chris Squibb and Terry Oldrid and, what’s more, the Belve had held a commanding 3-1 lead at the break.
This latest setback means Bobby Darch’s charges will have to win both of their final two matches if they are to ensure a third successive league crown as they now sit two points behind the Brit who have just one game to play.
However, it all started well enough for the hosts who fashioned a 2-0 lead as early as the 21st minute through two well-taken strikes from Paul Cole.
His first came 12 minutes in when he netted with a low drive and then he headed in Rob Maxted’s fine cross moments later to put the Belve in control.
But the Brit refused to lie down and on 43 minutes they hit back when Stu Burley knocked down to Jordan Bowler who fired past keeper Paul Bosworth.
That looked to be the foothold in the game the Portlanders desperately needed but then right on the stroke of half-time Darren Tizzard found the net to regain the Belve’s two-goal advantage.
In the second period, the Brit pushed Elliot Gould into attack alongside Burley and they began to ask a few more questions of the Belve defence, which led to a harsh penalty being awarded for handball by Nigel Evans.
Dell stepped up to the spot and converted, and following some fine saves from Martin Rutland the same player grabbed a dramatic leveller with 11 minutes remaining.
Suddenly the Belve looked nervy and when Phil Lee upended Dell in the box, the victim picked himself up and grabbed his third with another well-taken penalty to complete a sensation comeback.
Meanwhile over at Budmouth, the Dorothy Inn became the third side to confirm promotion from the Championship thanks to a 3-1 triumph over a well-organised Southill SC side.
Carl McClements opened the scoring with a powerful drive that found the top corner – his 50th of the campaign. The hosts doubled their advantage as tricky winger Chris Skinner was upended and Ricky Lane converted from the spot.
Keeper Wayne Gifford was then left exposed and beaten just before the break but Southill’s goal proved merely a consolation as Lane added his second in the 74th minute to wrap up the points and promotion for the Dot.
RESULTS Weymouth Sunday League Premiership: Belvedere 3 Britannia 4, George (Port) 6 Tuatara 3, Rendezvous 2 AFC Black Dog 0, Rodwell 5 Duke of Albany 0 (w/o).
Championship: Dorothy 3 Southill SC 1, George (Dorch) 4 Alex 4, Queens Park Venue 3 Chapelhay 3.
Les Hallett Cup semi-finals: George (Port) 1 Belvedere 4, Market House 1 Tuatara 6.
TONIGHT’S FIXTURES (all 6.30pm at the Marsh) Len Mahoney Cup semi-finals: Kingswood v Southill SC, Rodwell v Duke of Albany.
* The Lugger have been excluded from the cup semi-finals after it was found they fielded an ineligible player in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat of the Kings-wood, who have been re-instated in their place.
* The Weymouth Sunday League’s Finals Day will be held at the Wessex Stadium on Sunday, May 3 beginning with the Les Hallett Trophy final at 10.30am.
The Len Mahoney Cup final follows around 1.30pm and it should be noted that the league’s presentation is to be held straight after at the same venue.
All proceeds from the day will be donated to this year’s selected charity – the RNLI.
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