CHICKERELL UNITED 3

COBHAM SPORTS 1

STRIKER Ben Coltart bagged two goals as Chickerell United continued their meteoric rise up the Dorset Premier League table with a 3-1 success over Cobham Sports at Weymouth College.

The win has stretched the Chickens’ unbeaten run to 16 games and they now sit fifth, just two points adrift of second-placed Poole Borough with a game in hand.

And it is the Hornets who will be Chickerell’s next opponents with the two sides marching into battle next Tuesday at Turlin Moor.

United boss Maurice Welch said: “We have played a lot of top sides recently in Portland United, Swanage Town & Herston and Westland Sports, and we have won them all. But next Tuesday’s game against Poole Borough could be the toughest of the lot.

“If we can get something there it would really set us up for a top two or top three or four finish and with the Dorset Premier League Cup final to come as well it really is shaping up to be a fantastic finale to the season for us.

“However, we have played a lot of games recently and the injuries are beginning to take their toll. Scott Henley and Graham Biles are both struggling and Liam Weeks is now out with a nasty shin injury.

“The positive news though is that Nick Etherington and Andy Graham both came on against Cobham and with neither one of them suffering any reaction to their recent injuries, and with Andy Hall back available, hopefully we can go to Poole Borough even stronger.”

Victory against the Hornets would see Chickerell move to within five points of leaders Portland with a game in hand. However, the Blues remain hot favourites to retain the title as both their last two matches are at home against Wincan-ton Town and Sturminster Newton United.

The Chickens dominated the opening exchanges against Cobham and after Coltart had gone close they took the lead through Craig Roper on 15 minutes.

And that was how it stayed until early in the second half when Coltart won a penalty, which he duly dispatched to double the advantage.

Sports fought hard to find a reply but when Coltart finished off a great team move to make it 3-0 the points were safely United’s. Cobham did eventually grab a consolation later in the period but it was the Chickens who celebrated at the final whistle after bringing up win 13 of their staggering unbeaten run.

Chickens: A Weeks, Henley (L Weeks 50), Welch, Daniels (Graham 80), Evans, Roper, Coltart, Smith, Sibley (Etherington 75), Beads, White.