A very cold and chilly, but after the recent Storm Darragh, relatively dry, mid December evening brought me 25 miles from my hotel in Bournemouth to visit the Avenue Stadium in Dorchester, home of Dorchester Sports FC.

The Avenue Stadium is the home of Dorchester Town and Dorchester Sports FC. It has a capacity of 5009, with seating for 710. The ground boasts a welcoming clubhouse and bright floodlighting. There was an abundance of free parking and the ground has cover on all sides.

Tonight’s game was a Dorset Premier League fixture, between the high flying Dorchester Sports FC team, sitting third at kick off, with twelve wins and just four defeats from their opening 18 games. Dorchester Sports FC have benefited from goals from Alex Godfrey who has plundered 19 in 20 matches, ably supported by Dylan Ellis (5 goals), Toby Kelly and Joshua Leake (both 4 goals).

Portland United FC Reserves have had a more mixed season, sitting in tenth place at kick off, with seven wins and seven defeats from their opening 15 fixtures. Portland United FC Reserves’ goals have come this season from, Troy Wallbridge (10 goals), Joshua Tennant, Ryan McKechnie and Sanchez Jahnz-Baker (all 5 goals).

The game was evenly fought with neither side in the ascendency, until the 32nd minute, when Portland United FC Reserves were awarded a free kick for a mistimed challenge on the edge of the home side’s area. Up stepped Josh Camp to calmly place the ball to the left of Sam Duncalf in the Dorchester Sports’ goal, to make it 0-1.

As the half time whistle blew and I ducked straight into the clubhouse to find a warm radiator, the teams went in separated by the single goal.

Dorchester came out with all guns firing after the break, hitting the post in the first minute of the half. In the 55th minute the scores were level, with Alex Godfrey firing home from close range, to make it 1-1, unfortunately catching out my filming skills!

The game was then furious with both sides straining their sinews to find a winner. Cards were being collected as the referee fought to keep a sense of calm.

As late as the final minute, a long range shot by a Portland United defender, attempting to lob the Dorchester Sports FC keeper, who had strayed off his line, rattled the crossbar. However at the full time whistle the spoils were shared, with both sides taking a point. It had been an entertaining fixture, which helped offset the biting wind!