Maitland reflects on baptism of fire (From Bournemouth Echo)

Maitland reflects on baptism of fire

7:00am Tuesday 12th May 2009 in

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OUTGOING Sturminster Marshall manager Paul Maitland admits this season was a baptism of fire, after his side finished second from bottom of the Dorset Premier League.

Marshall were level on 18 points with basement team Cobham Sports, but their minus-30 goal difference pipped Sports’ minus-37 figure.

They did their best to throw this advantage away last Saturday, when they went down 4-1 at Chickerell United.

A brace from Nick Etherington, plus strikes from Warren White and Craig Roper sealed victory for the Chickens.

Matt Saunders struck a penalty five minutes from time to give the visitors some consolation.

But it was not enough to stop Maitland ending his first and only season as Marshall boss on a defeat.

He will now be replaced by former Poole Borough coach Matt Morris, and goalkeeper Maitland is looking forward to focusing his energies solely on playing again.

“I don’t know where I’ll be playing yet, but I’m 27 this week and I’ve decided I still want to be out there,” he said.

“It’s a tough league to try and find your feet in and you’re just not allowed time to do that.

“We also haven’t been able to put the same team out consistently – I haven’t kept the same XI once all season, which didn’t help.”

With just three points separating Marshall from 11th spot, Maitland believes his side would have finished higher, but for their failure to turn one-goal defeats into draws and wins.

He added: “We looked through the statistics and we’ve lost 14 games by a single goal.

“If we took our chances in those games, the season would have been very different.

“But it wasn’t to be and I can’t knock the lads who have been there all year – they gave it everything.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my assistant Dave Bowmer because he did a lot on and off the pitch to help us.

“I wish the club all the best for next year.”

Poole Borough’s hopes of winning the Dorset Premier League title were mathematically ended after Portland United retained their crown with a 2-0 win at home to Sturminster Newton.

The Hornets finished their campaign on a high with a 2-1 triumph over Westland Sports at Turlin Moor.

Lukasz Koslowski gave Borough the lead after 20 minutes but Jack Williams levelled for Westland on 33.

Parity lasted just 60 seconds, though, as Koslowski struck his second to snatch the points.

Holt United kept their hopes of a top three place alive after holding Hamworthy Recreation to a 2-2 draw at Petersham Lane.

Crispin Rigler opened the scoring for the visitors after five minutes but Steve Devlin equalised for the Bulls on 35.

Devlin gave Holt the lead six minutes from time and they looked set to claim the three points.

However, their advantage lasted just seconds as Tom Willis quickly levelled for Rec.

In the day’s other game, Cranborne held Wincanton Town 1-1 in Somerset.