John Fowler Cup Final

Dowlish and Donyatt 2 Drimpton Reserves 1

A FINE strike just minutes from the end by Dowlish and Donyatt midfielder Chris Tanner brought down the curtain on the Perry Street League for this season and made sure the John Fowler Cup went to the twin villages at Perry Street FC on Monday evening.

It was a fitting end to a fine match which had seen George Hayward give the victors the lead late in the first half only for Drimpton Reserves to draw level just after the break.

The Dodgers began well with Tanner and Hayward both testing Tom Pomphrett in the Drimpton goal but the Dorset side soon settled and Chris Fry was inches wide with a curling effort.

Pomphrett then did well to parry and then hold a Hayward free-kick before keeping out a Nathan Doey strike just past the half hour but seconds later he could do nothing as Hayward drilled home a left foot shot to give Dowlish a deserved lead.

Drimpton replied before the break as Fry hit the bar with a header from a corner and an all action half ended with Callan Lowden having a shot blocked for a corner which came to nothing.

Within minutes of the restart Drimpton were level when Ashley Spurrell sent over a long cross and Adam Tanner found room to guide a looping header over Sam Grinter.

Dowlish striker John Bartlett then throught he had given his side the lead when he converted a low cross only to see the offside flag up and that set the tone for a breathless final half hour.

Fry shot wide for Drimpton then Lowden’s effort shared the same fate before Luke Dopson almost sewed things up but his shot clipped the outside of Pomphrett’s post.

Dowlish were getting stronger as the game went on and with minutes left and extra-time looming Tanner latched on to a through ball and beat the advancing Pomphrett to bring the cup to Dowlish and Donyatt after what had been a fine season which ended with two final places and a third place finish.

Dowlish and Donyatt Sam Grinter, Andy North, Steve Usher, Toby Symes, Matt Baker, Like Dopson, Nathan Doey, Chris Tanner, Adam Payne, John Bartlett, George Hayward. Subs: Harry Brown, Luke Knight, Ryan Baker, Matt Riste, Matt Vinall.

Drimpton Reserves Tom Pomphrett, Ashley Spurrell, Andy Woods, Tim Hooker, Andy Jeffrey, Rickie Samways, Callan Lowden, Gavin Tanner, Chris Fry, Adam Tanner, Liam Adams. Subs: Josh Betts, Matt Isaacs, Dan Fry, Callan Strelley.