27.09.25 – Weymouth College Sports Centre – ko 3.00pm

It was raining goals in a highly entertaining game at Weymouth College as last seasons DPL league champions Bournemouth Sports came away with all three points, winning 5-4 with striker Dan Hayward scoring the winner in injury time. 

The hosts started brightly and went ahead in the 11th minute when striker Troy Walbridge converted from close range inside the box. The visitors from Chapel Gate went close on two occasions with winger Taylor Webb seeing both efforts go over. However Webb would level in the 27th minute racing onto a flick on from Hayward to score. 

Bournemouth Sports were now beginning to take control of the game and went ahead in the 32nd minute with Hayward heading home from a corner. Fellow striker Sam Bennett put the visitors 3-1 ahead in the 38th minute heading in from a cross. Balti playing with much enthusiasm pulled one back, again striker Walbridge converting from inside the area. Sam Bennett would get his second of the afternoon racing onto a through ball and finishing well in the 41st minute before Walbridge would complete his hat-trick and score the goal of the game with a thunderous effort from 30 yards. HT 3-4 

Balti Sports started the second half brightly chasing the equaliser which eventually came in the 70th minute when substitute Matt Chambers scored from close range. At the other end Bournemouth striker Sam Bennett went close twice, lobbing Jacob English in the Balti goal, but saw his effort bounce wide of the target and on another occasion saw his powerful header superbly saved by English. 

Bournemouth keeper Jacob Lewiarz was certainly having a busy period in the second half and pulled off several fine saves to keep his team in the game. As the game went on Balti Sports enjoyed more of the ball and looked the most likely to grab the winning goal, Bournemouth sat deep and looked to play on the break. The winning goal came in the 90th minute when striker Dan Hayward headed in from a corner taking his tally to nine goals for the season and ensuring the men from Chapel Gate remain in second place in the league table and went home with all 3 points. FT 4-5 

Bournemouth – Jakub Lewiarz, Jake Perch, Max Norris, Joe White, Dan Viner, Taylor Edwards, Taylor Webb, Tom Beckett, Sam Bennett, Dan Hayward, James Bergin 

Subs – Jamie Booth for Jake Perch (53), Rob Howard for James Bergin (65) 

Photo – Dan Hayward scoring the winner late on in the game.