Ugly scenes after Chickens’ skipper Welch is pole-axed (From This is Hampshire)

Ugly scenes after Chickens’ skipper Welch is pole-axed

8:14am Tuesday 4th December 2012 in Hampshire Sport By Dill Butcher

CHICKERELL UNITED 3 SHERBORNE TOWN RESERVES 2

Chickerell got back to winning ways but Josh Tennant’s late headed winner was overshadowed by ugly scenes at the end of what had been a decent contest at Cranford Avenue.

Unfortunately the chaos that was sparked in the 87th minute when home skipper Dan Welch was pole-axed by a right hook from Sherborne striker Lee Peaty will stay longer in the memory than the football that preceeded it.

And home boss Maurice Welch fumed straight after the game that Sherborne had shown “a very disappointing, unprofessional attitude” and their ill-discipline was the worst he’d seen in the Magna Dorset Premier League.

Referee Tom Richardson had no choice but to hand Peaty a straight red card for one of the worst acts of retaliation anyone is likely to ever witness.

But the game was subsequently held up for two minutes as the officials tried desperately to dampen tempers and scuffles that continued into the car park on the long walk to the changing rooms at the final whistle.

Peaty insisted that Welch had caught him with an elbow as they tangled for an aerial ball that put the former on the floor, but his reaction to what was almost certainly an accidental collison was extreme to say the least, and he will now face a long period on the sidelines.

Chickerell had made a commanding start to the game and found themselves 2-0 to the good after 25 minutes.

In the 12th minute, Tennant’s low centre was picked up by Lee Pattison who, losing his balance, decided to tee up Sean Stewart whose side-footer flew beyond stopper Matt Turner from the edge of the box.

Five minutes later, Stuart Walbridge had to make a last-ditch tackle to thwart Sam Smith at the other end before Tennant found himself clean through on goal only to see Turner race from his line to block with his chest.

However, United soon added their second when Pattison robbed defender Jason Bond then as he proceeded to round Turner the ball ran for Walbridge to tuck home.

It looked as though the Chickens were now in full control but 10 minutes before the break the visitors were handed a way back in when Sean Stewart gave away a needless penalty and Danny Call coolly slotted home from 12 yards.

Sherborne, now buoyant, sought an equaliser and after a Lee Richards’ volley had been deflected wide by Josh Burton, another effort from Richards was adjudged by Richardson to have been handled by Tennant who had spread himself to block.

Up stepped Call to find the same spot again with his second penalty four minutes before the break to make it two apiece.

Richardson had not felt the need to reach for his pocket in the first half but after the switch the game started to turn niggly and five yellow cards were issued – two of which were earned by the hosts.

Pattison should have done better with a header over the bar from a tantalising Nick Etherington centre in the 69th minute moments before the latter saw his shot dribble against the foot of the left upright.

Tennant headed wide in the 81st minute but two minutes later he grabbed the winner when Etherington picked out substitute Liam Beades in the left corner and he was able to dig out a peach of a cross that was nodded home from close range.

Boss Welch said: “We were comfortable in the first 20 miutes then we switched off and made hard work of it. Other than that opening spell we didn’t play well but it was nice to get the three points.

Chickens: Boare, Lambert (Beades 79), S Welch, Burton, D Welch, Miles, Etherington, Stewart, Pattison (Falcus 71), Tennant, Walbridge.