Bournemouth Sports maintain pole position in the Dorset Premier League following a fine 4-2 win at Portland. The win sees the men from Chapel Gate extend their unbeaten run to 20 games (including those from the back end of last season). 

Despite having the lions share of possession in the early stages it was the hosts who took the lead against the run of play in the 17th minute when Ryan Mckechnie scored with a good shot from outside the box which went in off the far post giving Bournemouth keeper Ryan Knibbs no chance. Sports were soon back on level terms when midfielder Josh Moody scored with a brilliant free kick from just outside the area in the 24th minute. 

Just 3 minutes later the visitors went ahead when a long throw from Dan Edwards was flicked on for James Bergin to volley home for his 14th goal of the season. Sports were very much on the front foot now and striker Sam Darlow almost scored, but saw his header from a cross go marginally over. However in the 40th minute Josh Moody would find himself on the scoresheet again chasing down a back pass to keeper Sam Moggeridge who’s clearance hit Moody and flew into the goal. HT 1-3

Into the second half and Portland started brightly and went close with a header just over the bar from a corner in the 55th minute. At the other end Josh Moody also went close, but saw his header sail just over the bar. Sports went further ahead following clever play by substitute Max Mountford who picked out Jack Voisey to fire home in the 67th minute. Fellow substitute Gabriel Spennato went close late on before Portland grabbed a 2nd goal of the game when Josh Camp capitalised on a poor back pass to fire home inside the area. 2-4 FT

Bournemouth – Ryan Knibbs, Jake Perch, Matt Ellis, Tommy White, Eddie Myers, Taylor Edwards, Dan Edwards, Josh Moody, Jack Voisey, Sam Darlow, James Bergin 

Substitutes – Tom  Beckett for Dan Edwards (60) Max Mountford for Sam Darlow (63), Taylor Webb for James Bergin (75), Gabriel Spennato for Josh Moody (75)

Picture – Bournemouth players celebrating the 4th goal of the afternoon

​16.11.24 

Bournemouth Sports claimed pole position in the Dorset Premier League with a 4-1 win away at Poole Borough in a somewhat scrappy game.

The hosts went close early on when a player shot from just outside the area and saw his effort go narrowly wide of the post. At the other end Sports Winger James Bergin blazed over from close range before the visitors took the lead on the half hour mark in controversial circumstances. Striker Sam Darlow converted from close range from a Bergin cross and initially the goal was not given, but once the referee consulted his linesman the goal was awarded much to the frustration of the home players, staff and support. 

Poole Borough were back on level terms soon after when confusion in the Bournemouth defence enabled the player to fire past Ryan Knibbs from just inside the area. 

The men from Chapel Gate soon found themselves ahead on 38 minutes when midfielder Dan Edwards scored his first goal for the club converting from close range following a good cross into the box by James Bergin. Moreover they would extend their lead to 3 1 moments later when central defender Tommy White headed home from a set play. HT 1-3

The second half was a scrappy affair with neither team finding much momentum and patterns of play often breaking down. In fact Bournemouth Sports would have to wait until the 80th minute before adding a 4th goal. Following great play down the right hand side between Jake Perch & Matt Ellis, it was Ellis cross that was converted by Sports striker Sam Darlow scoring his 12th goal of the season, securing the win, 3 points, see his side go top of the league and unbeaten in the last 19 league games stretching back to the end of last season. FT 1-4

Bournemouth – Ryan Knibbs, Jake Perch, Max Norris, Dan Edwards, Cameron Shaw, Tommy White, Taylor Edwards, Jamie Trimble, Matt Ellis, Sam Darlow, James Bergin 

Substitutions – Tom Beckett for Jamie Trimble (60), Max Mountford for James Bergin (80)

Picture –  Dan Edwards with fellow midfielders Jamie Trimble & Taylor Edwards 

Bournemouth Sports extended their unbeaten run of results in the league to 18 games (including those at the back end of last season) with a 4-2 win over neighbours Bournemouth Electric. 

It was the visitors who started lively with the pacey Sam Lench and Dillon King posing the main threats. The hosts went close on 14 minutes when a cross from winger James Bergin found fellow winger Taylor Webb, but his header was blocked by an electric defender.

Electric nearly took the lead on 22 minutes from a corner but Sports goalkeeper Ryan Knibbs pulled off a fantastic save to keep the visitors at bay. Sports would find themselves ahead on the half hour mark when playmaker Tom Beckett played an inch perfect ball to winger James Bergin to fire home into the far corner for his 13th goal of the season. 

Moments later Sports Striker Sam Darlow scored arguably the goal of the season when converting a cross with an acrobatic volley into the net giving Electric Keeper Max Frampton no chance. Electric replied on 38 minutes when William Cooper scored a great goal directly from a free kick just outside the area. HT 2-1

Into the second half and the visitors were level capitalising on some hesitation in the home defence for striker Dillon King to convert from close range. From this point on the game was very open with Electric introducing some pacey younger players in the forward positions whilst Sports opted to bring on experienced players Jamie Trimble & Josh Moody. Indeed Jamie Trimble went close on 70 minutes with a header which went just over the bar.

Sports took the lead in the 74th minute when a fine cross from Bergin was converted from close range by Josh Moody and towards the end of the game striker Sam Darlow would grab his 10th goal of the season converting from close range when Electric goalkeeper Max Frampton passed him the ball on the edge of the area.

The win still keeps Sports in 2nd place, but just 1 point behind Dorchester Sports and with two games in hand. 

Sports – Ryan Knibbs, Jake Perch, Matt Ellis, Eddie Myers, Cameron Shaw, Taylor Edwards, Dan Edwards, Tom Beckett, Taylor Webb, Sam Darlow, James Bergin

Subs –  Jamie Trimble for Tom Beckett (60), Josh Moody for Taylor Webb (65) 

Picture – Sports players celebrating one of the goals.

26.10.24 – 3.00pm KO  Park Road, Blandford.

Bournemouth Sports extended their unbeaten run to 17 games which includes games from the back of last season with a fantastic 3-2 win against much fancied Blandford United.

The visitors from Chapel Gate started positively and on the front foot and posed some questions early on with long throws into the box from Dan Edwards. Sports winger James Bergin went close from one of these in the 17th minute, but saw his effort just go wide. Bournemouth would take the lead in the 21st minute following a cross into the box from full back Jake Perch which Blandford Keeper Harry Foden punched for the ball to land to striker Sam Darlow to fire home.

James Bergin saw an effort in the 29th minute hit the bar before and against the run of play Blandford were level when Bournemouth defender Matt Ellis was harshly judged to have handled the ball in the area. Steven Smith converted the resulting spot kick which saw Bournemouth captain Eddie Myers “sin binned” for dissent. Ironically playing out the half with 10 men Bournemouth would take the lead when a great run down the right from Jack Voisey saw him pull the ball back for winger James Bergin to fire home from inside the box. HT 1-2

Into the second half and the visitors found themselves 3-1 ahead when James Bergin was picked out with a great pass from midfielder Tom Beckett to score his 12th goal of the season. The Royals would reduce the arrears in the 65th minute when a long throw seemed somehow to end up in the Bournemouth goal with the referee advising that it  hit a Sports player on the way in. Blandford looking for the equaliser hit the bar from a set play in the 75th minute whilst at the other end Bournemouth substitute Taylor Webb raced clear of the Blandford defenders only to be superbly denied by Foden in the Blandford goal.

Sports midfielder Taylor Edwards would see his 30 yard powerful shot hit the crossbar whilst late on Bournemouth held their nerve and defended superbly as the royals literally threw the proverbial kitchen sink at them.

A win that keeps Bournemouth Sports in second place, but only 3 points behind leaders Dorchester Sports and with two games in hand on them.

Bournemouth – Ryan Knibbs, Jake Perch, Matt Ellis, Eddie Myers, Cameron Shaw, Taylor Edwards, Tom Beckett, Dan Edwards, Jack Voisey, Sam Darlow, James Bergin

Substitutes – Gabriel Spennato for Tom Beckett (60), Taylor Webb for Jack Voisey (70), Josh Moody for James Bergin (75)

Picture – Sports Striker Sam Darlow who put his side 1-0 ahead.

A fiercely competitive game at Days Park in Swanage saw both sides come away with a point.  The hosts were very much on the front foot in the early stages of the first half, but for their possession didn’t trouble Sports goalkeeper Ryan Knibbs.

Against the run of play the visitors from Bournemouth went ahead when a pin point pass from midfielder Gabriel Spennato picked out winger Matt Ellis who outpaced the Swans full back, rounded Swanage goalkeeper Brad Smith to finish. The Swans almost replied immediately, but Knibbs denied Swanage central defender Ogun Gundogdu from close range.

Sports winger James Bergin went close in the 38th minute, but saw his volley from a right wing cross go wide of the target. However shortly afterwards the visitors would find themselves 2-0 ahead when Gabriel Spennato broke the Swans off side trap and raced through on goal before passing to Matt Ellis to convert from close range. HT 0-2

Into the second half and the Swans scored early following a throw in and a flick on which the Sports defence didn’t react quickly enough to and striker Ocean Smith fired home. Sports striker Sam Darlow went close in the 50th minute with a fierce left footed shot from a direct free kick that Brad Smith did very well to keep out. 

Cohen Lee went close for the hosts in the 67th minute before the Swans levelled 3 minutes later from a set piece as the tall Gundogdu won the flick on and the Bournemouth players failed to clear resulting in Cody Moore firing home from close range.

Both sides went looking for the winning goal and Ocean Smith went close for the hosts moments later whilst late on in the game at the other end a superb cross by Sports substitute Dan Edwards was met by Jamie Trimble and his glancing header went just wide of the far post. 

A very competitive game on a warm sunny afternoon in Swanage which was a great advert for the Dorset Premier League.

FT 2-2 

Sports – Ryan Knibbs, Jake Perch, Max Norris, Eddie Myers, Tommy White, Taylor Edwards, Gabriel Spennato, Jamie Trimble, Sam Darlow, James Bergin, Matt Ellis 

Substitutions – Dan Edwards for Gabriel Spennato (60) Taylor Webb for Matt Ellis (80) 

Picture – Sports goalscorer Matt Ellis 

05.10.24 Chapel Gate 3.pm KO

Bournemouth Sports claimed pole position in the Dorset Premier League by securing a 2-0 win against a hard working and resilient Portland side on a warm sunny autumn’s afternoon at Chapel Gate.

The first half was a bit of an anti climax with neither side really threatning. The hosts had the majority of possession, but found it hard to break down a well organised Portland side. A long range effort from midfielder Taylor Edwards sailed over in the 36th minute and a succession of corners and free kicks for the hosts came to no avail.

Late on in the half a shot from outside the box by Gabriel Spennato went just past the post and a fierce left foot shot from winger James Bergin whizzed across the face of the goal. HT 0-0

Into the second half and again whilst the men from Chapel Gate had the lions share of possession they found it difficult initially to create chances. However a change of formation midway through the half seemed to provide the hosts with more opportunities.

The visitors against the run of play almost took the lead from a corner, it needed a headed clearance off the line by Sports central defender Tommy White to ensure his side didn’t fall behind. Winger James Bergin almost put his side ahead, but saw his right foot shot go just wide of the far post.

Bournemouth grabbed two goals late on, Striker Jack Voisey fired his side ahead in the 80th minute from inside the box and James Bergin notched up his 10th goal of the season heading home a cross from substitute Dan Edwards.

Sports – Ryan Knibbs, Matt Ellis, Max Norris, Cameron Shaw, Tommy White, Tom Beckett, Gabriel Spennato, Taylor Edwards, Jack Voisey, Sam Darlow, James Bergin.

Substitutions – Taylor Webb for Tom Beckett (60), Dan Edwards for Gabriel Spennato (81), Jake Perch for Matt Ellis (88)

Photo – Sports Midfielder Tom Beckett

28.09.24 – Chapel Gate – 3PM KO

Bournemouth Sports extended their unbeaten run in the league with a comprehensive 6-3 win against Wimborne Town Reserves on a nice sunny afternoon at Chapel Gate. 

The hosts started positively in terms of possession and chances against a very energetic and enthusiastic young Wimborne team. Sports took the lead in the 15th minute when central defender Tommy White converted from close range from a James Bergin corner. Bergin then put his side 2-0 ahead straight from the resulting kick off capitalising on our poor back pass to slot pass Wimborne keeper Toby Dinnivan. 

Sports now with their tails up and playing some great football added a third goal in the 38th minute as pacey winger Taylor Webb was played in by James Bergin and saw his shot cannon off the post only to fall to Jack Voisey who fired home from close range. Wimborne seem to lose concentration at this point and found themselves conceding again shortly afterwards when midfielder Gabriel Spennato saw his shot go through the legs of keeper Dinnivan. 

Wimborne did however pull one back just before the half time interval on the break. HT 4-1

Into the second half and it was the visitors that started brightly and positively and found themselves reducing the deficit with two goals on 55 & 70 minutes to make a real game of it. However the in form Bergin scored in the 71st minute with a right foot shot into the far corner and the hosts effectively put the game to bed late on when Taylor Edwards converted from close range following a set piece. FT 6-3 

Bournemouth – Ryan Knibbs, Jake Perch, Max Norris, Tommy White, Eddie Myers, Jamie Trrimble, Gabriel Spennato, Taylor Webb, James Bergin, Jack Voisey, Max Mountford 

Subs – Sam Darlow for Taylor Webb (50), Taylor Edwards for Jake Perch (65), Dan Edwards for Jamie Trimble (65), Max Norris for Matt Ellis (70), Tom Beckett for Gabriel Spennato (70)

Photo – Bournemouth Sports players celebrating the 4th goal scored by Gabriel Spennato 

21.09.24 – 3.00Pm KO – Merley Park

Third v fourth at Merley Park on Saturday as Cobham Sports entertained Bournemouth Sports, it was a cracking day for the game played on a pristine surface, there was little to chose between the two sides and the final score at two apiece was probably a fair result in the end. Bournemouth Sports had the better of things in the first half and took the lead in the 34th minute through James Bergin, Josh Buck equalised for Cobham in the 43rd minute then took the lead in the 59th minute only for Bournemouth to equalise in the the second minute of added on time at the end of the game to make it 2-2.
Bournemouth took charge of the game early in the piece threatening out wide on the right in the first 10 minutes, catching Cobham cold at the back but the home side gradually worked their way into the game and the midfield of both sides were having a real battle for ascendency. Bournemouth Sports had a gilt edged opportunity to take the lead in the 23rd minute, again they probed down the right and Borges failed to deal with Jack Voisey out wide who beat him and when rounding Harvey Elsom the Cobham defender clipped his heals and conceded a penalty but Jacob Deakin came to the rescue with a save to his right from the Voisey spot kick.

Six minutes later Voisey carved out another opportunity and found Sam Darlow in space 16 yards out and his shot cracked against the bar. Josh Toop came close for Cobham in the 31st minute expertly beating his man but he chipped over the advancing keeper and just over the bar, a minute later Bournemouth took the lead, a long ball from Cameron Shaw beat the high, square Cobham backline and Bergin rounded Deakin and slotted home the opening goal of the afternoon to put the visitors 1-0 ahead. Cobham rallied from this setback and got back on level terms just two minutes before the interval, good work from Toop and Chris Manners saw the latter square a ball into the path of Josh Buck who drove home a fine effort from 18 yards giving Ryan Knibbs no chance in the Bournemouth goal, 1-1 at halftime.
Cobham started the better of the two sides in the second period and were starting to look threatening, Buck being in the thick of things for them and Tadgh Case brought a brilliant save out of Knibbs in the 57th minute, his shot from 20 yards being tipped over for a corner.

Cobham hit the front in the 59th minute, an excellent ball from Deakin found Toop on the right, he cut inside and found Buck who’s beautiful incisive pass caught the Bournemouth backline square and the on running Dan Brown rounded the advancing Knibbs and slotted home to make it 2-1 to Cobham. The game had now opened up and I felt that this suited Bournemouth Sports a little, Cobham became a little deep in midfield at times allowing their opponents more room to work the ball from the back but the home defence held well until conceding a corner deep into stoppage time, the cross wasn’t dealt with by Deakin and the defence and was headed home at the far post by Shaw to tie the game up and give them a deserved share of the spoils on the day.
Written by – Ian Gilmartin – Cobham Sports “man in the stand” & thankyou.

Image: Cam Shaw heading home the injury time equaliser.