HAMWORTHY Rec's Sam Purdy scored one and set up the other to settle this keenly-contested cup clash with Merley before the rival bosses disagreed over the balance of play.

Rec frontrunner Purdy, who started the season with Wessex Premier outfit Christchurch, opened the scoring with a virtuoso effort after half an hour before laying on the killer second for 24-goal strike sensation Luke Stone in the dying stages.

And while Merley manager Ollie Cherrett felt the 2-0 reverse was harsh on his side, opposite number Keith Whatling thought Purdy’s performance was worthy of winning the league cup first-round tie.

Reacting to the result, Cherrett told the Daily Echo: “It was a typical cup game and both teams were right at it but I was disappointed with the result because we controlled the game from start to finish.

“The difference was their finishing. They took their two chances while we failed to take any of the four or five we created.

“It could have gone either way but I certainly didn’t think we deserved to lose. We did everything well, our finishing just wasn’t as good as theirs.”

Responding to Cherrett’s views, Whatling said: “I thought we might end up seeing it differently!

“I wouldn’t say they controlled the game, that comment was a bit harsh on us. Both sides went for it but there was no real quality until Sam Purdy scored a goal that was out of this world.

“Andy Knights hit a long clearance right up the pitch and, before it could bounce, Sam dinked it up in the air before knocking over the keeper.

“Anyone could have won it for a spell and, while they had their chances, we had just as much reason to believe we could kill it off.”

Meanwhile, Purdy’s productive afternoon came as no surprise to Whatling who singled out his star man as the force behind Rec’s recent run of form.

The Hamworthy manager added: “He turned down an approach from (Wessex League champions) Blackfield & Langley recently and I have massive respect for him for sticking at it. He’s clearly enjoying his football.”

Hamworthy Rec: Knights, Dand, Hatchard, Walden, Bartlett, Wilcox, Andrews, Willis, Purdy, Stone, Boyt (Shovelton, 75).

Merley: C Park, Shering, Mills, Lever, Cormack, Phillips, Barnett (McGilchrist, 61), Moores, J Park (Atkinson, 75), Dyer, Hobbs (Pritchard, 54).