BOSS Tim Brown’s half-time dressing down paid dividends as Swanage Town & Herston booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Dorset Premier League Cup with a 5-2 win at Blandford United.
Graeme Rose’s hat-trick – his second in as many games – and a double from skipper Ben Harding saw Swans register a sixth win in eight in all competitions.
But despite leading at the break through Harding’s first-minute and Rose’s 39th-minute header, manager Brown was far from happy with his side’s first-half showing.
He said: “Although we were winning at half-time, it was a poor first half. I had to have some stern words at half-time and it was a great performance in the second half in atrocious conditions.
“I was delighted with another hat-trick from Graeme Rose and two more goals for Ben Harding. It was a quality performance from the back four and a very workmanlike display with quality crosses from man of the match Jacob Harrop.”
The Royals were dealt a blow in the warm-up when they lost goalkeeper Alex Dickinson to injury with Simon Hyde stepping in.
Harding’s early goal was cancelled out by a Jamie Filkins penalty before Rose restored Swans lead.
Brown’s boys controlled the second half with Rose’s two goals sandwiching Harding’s second before Chris Dickson added a late consolation.
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