PORTLAND UNITED 2 CHICKERELL UNITED 2

BLUES’ boss Gary Bailey has called for his side to move up a gear following their 2-2 pre-season draw with Chickerell United at Grove Corner.

After falling behind on the quarter of an hour mark, Dan Austin then slotted the ball home at the back post from Ross Doidge’s free-kick to level things up at the interval.

And when Ed Bastic, pictured, found the net for the Blues on 60 minutes, it looked like Gary Bailey’s men were going to hold out for victory, but they were pegged back by a last minute Chickens’ leveller after needlessly giving away possession on the edge of the box.

Manager Bailey told Echosport: “We completely dominated possession all game and for the most part passed it well, but at times we had so much of the ball we lacked a bit of edge and tempo in our play.

“I would have liked to have seen us convert our dominance into goals but credit to Chickerell, they got plenty behind the ball and made it hard for us.

“I was not particularly happy with the nature of the goals we conceded, both were a bit sloppy and of our own making.

“Our fitness is getting there, but we will need to find a higher gear when the league campaign starts on Saturday.”