On a scorching day at Pixham, Dorkinian 6s produced a second-half masterclass, powering to a dominant 5-1 win to take another huge step towards the title!

The first half saw Dorkinians control possession, playing some excellent football through the thirds. Chris Ward’s set-pieces caused havoc, Charlie Sutherland and Max Ridler stretched the opposition with relentless runs, and Marc Sturmey and James Whitmarsh kept things calm and composed in possession. The breakthrough came when Martin Butterly won a crucial free-kick after battling through defenders. Up stepped Chris Thurgood, who curled a stunning strike into the top corner to give Dorkinians a 1-0 halftime lead.

The second half began with an unexpected equalizer, as a scrappy clearance fell to the opposition striker, who poked home from close range. 1-1. That was the wake-up call Dorkinians needed, and the response was immediate and ruthless. Max Ridler fired Dorkinians back in front, latching onto a perfectly weighted pass from Thurgood before coolly finishing. Moments later, Thurgood was the provider again, delivering a brilliant assist for Ridler’s second, as the winger fired home to make it 3-1.

With Dorkinians dominating, Marc Sturmey and Oli Jarvis continued to shut down any threats, with George Edwards providing an outlet on the right and James Whitmarsh linking play beautifully on the left. Their defensive work gave Rhodri the platform to step up and pull the strings in midfield.

Super-sub Chris Bark then made an instant impact, burying a composed finish after a clever assist from Rhodri to make it 4-1. With Louie Bruce and Matt York coming on, fresh legs ensured Dorkinians kept their high-energy pressing and intelligent passing going into the final minutes.

Thurgood sealed the win with his second goal of the game, latching onto a slick team move and rifling home to round off a complete performance. 5-1. At the other end, Dave Williams produced an unbelievable late save, reacting sharply to tip a rocket-bound shot onto the bar, showing his class yet again. A brilliant all-round team performance, where every single player played a crucial role!

By Chris Ward