Duke’s fightback

THE Duke of Albany fell behind in the fifth minute but still ran out comfortable 6-2 winners over AFC Black Dog to consolidate second spot in the Premiership.

The Dog stunned the Duke when Dean Richards flicked on Ben Greenman’s corner for Wayne Day to net from close range.

But the Park Street boys responded quickly with Don Wellman crashing home a header at the back post from Luke Tomlin’s centre.

Keeper Neil Robinson’s best efforts then kept the Duke at bay until the 35th minute when Wellman latched onto a loose ball 20 yards from goal and sent a deflected shot through a crowded goalmouth and into the net.

However, just ahead of the break the Dog were undone again, this time Russell North lobbing Robinson after racing on to Darren Samways’ through ball.

Just five minutes after the restart Danny Andrews made the points safe with another lob while at the other end Lee Rockingham wasted a good chance when he blazed over from ten yards.

A minute later the Dog did pull one back when sub Andy Thomson teed up Stu Spearing and his thunderbolt from 25 yards beat Anthony Luque all ends up.

However, the Duke made it 5-2 in the 78th minute as luckless Dan Pickering scored his third own goal of the season before Andrews rounded off the scoring with his second of the morning.

The Duke are now just one point adrift of leaders Belvedere at the top. The title-holders were held to a 0-0 draw by a depleted George outfit who were missing some key men including both Ray Wellman and Chris Armstrong.

However, top-class defending from debutant James Potts and James Vincent helped the Portlanders keep the Belve at bay.

The George also had chances to win it with Grant Chance shooting wide after racing through, Mark Stamp having an effort cleared off the line and James Palmer sending a strike against the crossbar.

Elsewhere in two closely-fought contests, the Britannia came back from 4-2 down to edge past the Lugger 5-4 at Budmouth while the Rodwell sneaked home 2-1 in their derby with the Kingswood at Redlands.

Elliot Gould sealed a win for the Brit, which was anything but plain sailing, when he pounced to net his second eight minutes from time.

Ben Milton opened the scoring in the 16th minute with his first of an eventual hat-trick but the Chickerellers hit back within five minutes and then added a second from the penalty spot before Milton brought it back to 2-2 with an exquisite lob over keeper Dan Bickerstaff.

Either side of the break the Lugger netted to make it 4-2 and it was left to Milton to complete his hat-trick before Gould stole the points for a relieved Brit.

Praising his side’s character, Steve Summers said: “Again we gave ourselves a mountain to climb but we just don’t know when we are beaten. It’s good to take all the points when we are not playing particularly well but it would be nice not to have to keep coming from behind.”

Rodwell manager Dan Laing was in upbeat mood after his side’s victory over the Wood. He said: “This was a very pleasing performance considering we were missing probably two of our most in-form players today in Anthony Mauger and Ollie Stanton, and to get three points against a team like the Kingswood shows we are going in the right direction.”

After 15 minutes Rodwell made the breakthrough as Phil Anderson released Roger Boyd down the right and he slid the ball in neatly for Mike Flann who cleverly clipped the advancing keeper.

At the other end Jimmy Hallett was presented with two gilt-edged chances but the darting striker blazed wide on both occasions.

The Rodwell doubled their money early in the second period as Nicky Abbott’s in-swinging free kick was flicked on and there was Boyd, unmarked at the back post, to coolly head back across Nick Gregg for 2-0.

Midway through the second half a poor clearance from Gareth Heseltine, deputising in goal, was seized upon by Wood sub Michael Stone who floated a lob straight back over the stranded keeper and into the net from 40 yards.

But in the end the Rodwellers hung on for all three points leaving the Wood to rue those missed chances by Hallett, and others from Marc Williamson and Matty Williams.

Wood co-manager Adam Summers said: “On chances we deserved a point but Rodwell looked more of a team out there than we did. They were encouraging each other all the way through whereas some of our lads let us down by arguing amongst themselves.

“We have a lot of quality in the squad but that is worth nothing without a team ethic. In-order to be successful players need to support each other and stand united together.

“We have lost three games so far this season against the Belve, the Brit and now the Rodwell, and they all displayed that passion and togetherness. That is what we are missing at the moment and until we find it we will always struggle to get results against the top sides.”

Over at Budmouth, the Dorothy Inn ran out comfortable 6-2 winners over the previously unbeaten Rock in their Championship tussle.

Once the Dot had found their rhythm they found an opening goal as Phil Groves superbly switched play to find Ben Stanton in space and he in turn played in Carl McClements who slotted past the advancing keeper.

After Wayne Gifford had missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0 the Rock equalised through TJ Barker’s cool finish but then the Dot were soon back in front with a long ball from Groves being slotted home by McClements.

Soon after, Bishop added a Dot third before McClements tapped home for his third hat-trick of the season, Elliot Gould then replied for the Rock before that man McClements added his fourth just before the break following great wing play from Chris Skinner.

A scrappy second period produced just one further goal and it came from the boot of Ben Stanton from two yards after Skinner had worked the wing.

Meanwhile, the Golden Lion enjoyed a good morning’s work as they came from behind to overwhelm Southill Snooker Club 4-1.

Rick Steele’s close range free-kick cancelled out Southill’s early converted penalty for 1-1 going into the second period where Daz Smyth found the net with a fine header.

Later a superb solo goal from Kevin Lowe made it 3-1 before Matthew Balsdon completed the scoring with an equally good individual goal.

Finally the first round of the Dorset Junior Cup turned into a nightmare for Galaxy Windows as they suffered their worst result of the season – a 5-0 thumping at AFC Hewitt Green of Poole.

Boss Andy Barber said: “Our young lads deserved some credit as they were a big, strong, physical side who passed the ball well. We certainly missed some of our senior players and without wanting to sound harsh I will have to make some changes for next week’s clash with the Lion.”

RESULTS

Premiership: Rodwell 2 Kingswood 1, George 0 Belvedere 0, Duke of Albany 6 AFC Black Dog 2, Railway Tavern 2 Tuatara 4, Rendezvous 0 Punchbowl 9, Lugger 4 Britannia 5.

Championship: George 6 Old Castle 2, Market House 2 Queens 2, Dorothy 6 Rock 2, Chapelhay 11 Clean Connections 0, Golden Lion 4 Southill 1.

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