Sport

Sport McGrath seals the points for Magpies

By Stuart Wickham

sport@westdorsetmag.co.uk Kings Langley 1 Dorchester Town 2

Harry McGrath scored his first goal for the Magpies to secure a vital win in their quest for survival, as they produced a blistering start to the second half to come from behind against fellow strugglers Kings Langley. McGrath coolly slotted home on 51 minutes, when Olaf Koszela’s blocked effort rebounded into his path, to complete a fantastic comeback and enable them to return to Dorset with the spoils. Just three minutes earlier, McGrath had been the provider for Town’s equaliser, his superb through ball finding Alfie Stanley one-on-one with the Lango keeper Alfie Marriott and the striker made no mistake, firing into the corner with a measured finish. The Magpies’ performance in the second period was in stark contrast to their first half display, in which they mustered only one effort on target, and deservedly trailed to Bradley Wadkins’ 33rd minute strike. Chances were at a premium in a tight opening, although Dorchester may have snatched the lead within the first minute had Stanley been able to make any connection with Billy Lowes’ drilled effort. The hosts became increasingly threatening as the half wore on with Town struggling to find their rhythm, and they duly took the lead when Wadkins was sent clear of a static Magpies’ defence, and shot past Josh Bycroft into the corner. The mood among the large travelling support was understandably pessimistic at the break, given their recent poor run of form, and their inability to respond when falling behind. But they came out with renewed purpose and, having stunned their hosts by overturning the deficit, were comfortably the better team for the remainder of the match. Despite missing chances to increase their advantage, the Magpies were resolute in defence and had few alarms on their way to securing a precious victory. The win saw the Magpies leap-frog their opponents to move out of the relegation zone, and they now face high-flying Met Police at the Avenue on Saturday, March 26.

Magpies: Bycroft, Hanger, Calverley, Bertrand, Buckley, Wells, McGrath (Odubade 75), Purrington (Gunson 84), Stanley, Lowes, Koszela (Symes 90). Subs not used: Bertie, Slough.

FIRST MAGPIES GOAL: Harry McGrath

Bees keeper’s match award in eight-goal mauling

Mousehole 8 Bridport Town 1

Bridport goalkeeper Josh Lucas was awarded the man of the match award against high-flying Mousehole. However his heroic performance could not prevent another heavy defeat and his team’s relegation to Division One of the Toolstation League. The match, played in hurricane-like conditions at Trungle Parc with driving rain and gale force winds, was effectively over as a contest within the first 15 minutes as Mousehole went 3-0 up with goals from Louis Price, Callam McOnie and Mark Goldsworthy. With the howling wind at their backs, the home side increased their cushion to 5-0 at the break, with McOnie adding his second and Hayden Turner also finding a way past the over-worked Lucas. The Bees enjoyed their best spell at the start of the second half, and Riley Weedon reduced the arrears with a well-struck shot which arrowed into the bottom corner. Town had further chances to score with long range efforts from Weedon and Mike Hill almost catching out the Mousehole keeper, and Ezra Osei-Kumi and Harry Burwood also going close. The visitors tired in the last quarter of the game, allowing the hosts to score three more to make it 8-1, which flattered them somewhat. McOnie completed his hattrick on 79 minutes, and Goldsworthy added a late pair to stake his own claim for the match ball. Despite being outplayed and outgunned, the Bees’ again showed plenty of fight, character and professionalism, which drew praise from their opponents’ camp. Mousehole manager Jake Ash said: “It says a lot about Bridport Football Club that they managed to get this one done today on a horrible day. Great group, great manager. They managed to put out a decent side today that caused us a lot of problems and kept going to the end.”

The West Dorset Magazine, March 25, 2022 57 Sport Praise for club’s support for town’s food bank

Huge praise has been heaped on Sherborne Town FC supporters, players and managers for their generosity in boosting the larder of Sherborne Food Bank. Foodbank chairman Antony Edwards thanked the club for collecting donations before their recent home game against Portishead. Antony said: “What a result on Saturday! By the time we had unloaded at the depot, we had an amazing 15 crates of donated items for our Food Bank clients. “We would like to express our sincere thanks to the club’s directors, managers, players and supporters for this magnificent effort which is very much appreciated. “We look forward to cooperating with the club again in due course and are so grateful for their support of our worthy cause.” With numbers of people in need rising, Sherborne Food Bank would love to hear from volunteers, particularly those who can help with delivery driving on Friday mornings. n To find out more, please email help@ sherbornefoodbank.org or call 07854 163869.

THANKS:The Zebras' partnership with Sherborne Food Bank is well-supported with fans, players and committee members all giving much-needed supplies

Magic moments seal Blues’ revenge

By STUART BRIGGS

Bridport Puddletown 18 7

Bridport avenged their December defeat at the hands of local rivals Puddletown, with two moments of magic producing the decisive tries in this hard-fought encounter at the Brewery Ground. In a match hampered by a strong wind, and punctuated with a seemingly endless string of penalties, the Blues’ backs combined superbly to enable Corben Newman and Jordan Neil to cross over for the crucial scores. Defences had been firmly on top for the opening 20 minutes, although Puddletown, with the wind at their backs, enjoyed the greater territorial advantage, and the visitors may have opened the scoring following a driving maul, which the Blues did well to hold up on the line. Instead it was the Blues who scored first when Corben Newman rounded off a superb move from the Bridport backline, which began deep in their own territory. James Bickley had gathered from an overthrown Puddletown lineout, and broke towards half way before offloading to Mitch Waters. Daragh McCoughlin and Nathan Herbert were in support to sweep the Blues into their opponents’ 22 and Newman was on hand to finish off the move, with Waters adding the conversion. The visitors quickly responded, and following a favourable bounce from a kick through, scored under the posts to make it 7-7. The Blues regained the lead when Waters moved the ball quickly following a lineout penalty, before some swift play through the backs enabled Sam Petchey to offload to Neil to score in the corner and make it 12-7 at the break. Bridport managed the game well in the second half and kept the visitors pinned back in their own territory for long periods, although had to wait until two late Waters’ penalties gave them a cushion going into the final 10 minutes. The visitors were still able to pile on some late pressure, without being able to break through the home side’s solid defence. Skipper Andrew Livingston said: “The squad is continuing to grow and with it the ambitions of the players. A few years and this team will be back competing in the Southern Counties league.” n Bridport RFC and Puddletown RFC held a minute silence before the match in memory of former player and second-team captain Keith Readings who sadly passed away. n Bridport are away to Weymouth & Portland on Saturday, March 26 for their penultimate league fixture of the season.

PRESSUE: Will Murley drives forward following a ruck Picture: STUART BRIGGS

58 The West Dorset Magazine, March 25, 2022 Sport Williams at the double to see off title rivals

Sherborne Town 2 Warminster Town 0

The Zebras stretched their incredible winning run to 15 matches and increased their lead at the top of the league to 12 points, with just six games now remaining in front of their biggest crowd of the season. Two second-half goals from defender Josh Williams were enough to give the Zebras the points in this crucial top-of-thetable battle against championship rivals, Warminster Town. Williams brace came in a three-minute spell early in the second half, which swung the game in the Zebras’ favour, after they had been tested by a strong Warminster team who had been the better side for the opening 45 minutes. Both Williams goals came from setpieces with Ant Herrin the provider. The opener, scored shortly after the interval, was a well-timed volley following Herrin’s corner to the back post, which took a deflection on its way into the roof of the net. Williams’ second, just two minutes later, was a closerange header after Herrin’s free-kick evaded the visitors’ defence and found the Zebras’ defender in space, leaving him with a simple task to nod home. Warminster were left to regret their failure to turn their firsthalf superiority into goals. Visitors’ dangerman Martin Johnson was a constant threat and came close on a number of occasions as the Zebras struggled to get a foothold in the game. The goals seemed to settle the home side, with man of the match Ben Hughes instrumental in helping them win the midfield battle in the second half and bring an element of control to the proceedings. The Zebras will hope to continue their winning streak on the road, as they face back-to-back away games against Longwell Green Sports and Odd Down. Sherborne: Attwood, White, Mapletoft, Budden, Williams, Hughes, Farthing (Brown 85), LawrenceNapier, Murphy, Herrin, Cornish. Subs not used: Cutmore, Hodges, Hebbard. Attendance: 253.

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE P W D L Pts Sherborne 34 25 6 3 81 Welton 31 21 6 4 69 Warminster 32 21 5 6 68 Wincanton 30 19 5 6 62

Five-star Zebras cruise to another win

By Stuart Wickham

sport@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Sherborne Town 5 Portishead Town 0

The free-scoring Zebras continued their impressive winning streak and ran out easy winners against Portishead Town in a match every bit as comfortable as the score line suggests. The hosts were in the ascendancy from the first whistle, playing some neat first time football, and they opened the scoring after just six minutes. Visiting keeper George Shanks-Boon had already made a smart save to deny Dec Cornish, but he was powerless to prevent Josh Williams’ stooping header from finding the back of the net, following Ant Herrin’s pinpoint corner to the back post. George Mapletoft added a second from Aaron White’s excellent cross from the right, the defender timing his run to perfection to power home a header from close range. The Zebras continued to dominate against a Portishead side who were forced to ring the changes and field a number of younger players, and they made it three-nil with a goal of genuine quality on 26 minutes. Cornish regained possession in a central area around 25 years from goal, before nutmegging a defender, and producing an exquisite chip from outside of the box to leave the Possets’ keeper helpless. Man-of-the-match White rounded off the first-half goal glut just two minutes before the break, with another brilliant long-range screamer. Cornish turned provider and rolled the ball into White’s path, and the defender launched a leftfooted howitzer of a strike from 20 yards, which left Shanks-Boon with no chance. The second half failed to deliver the same excitement or quality, and Portishead enjoyed longer spells of possession without seriously troubling Josh Attwood in the Zebras’ goal, and there was still time for Town to add a fifth courtesy of an own goal in the dying moments. Sherborne: Attwood, White, Mapletoft, Budden, Williams, Hughes, Farthing, Lawrence-Napier (Cotterill 84), Murphy (Cutmore 55), Herrin (Guppy 77), Cornish. Sub not used: Hebbard. Attendance: 105.

ALL WHITE: Aaron White receives his man of the match award from sponsors Soccerpitch