PORTLAND United may not finish the year top of the Dorset Premier League, but boss Gary Bailey is more than satisfied with his lot going into 2015.

Sherborne Town Reserves welcome the reigning league champions to Raleigh Grove tomorrow (2pm), nearly three months after they were hammered 7-1 by the Blues at Grove Corner.

And although Bailey’s troops will have to start the new year behind Merley Cobham Sports no matter what happens this weekend, he is enjoying another season vying for silverware.

“I couldn’t be happier,” he said. “We’ve only lost three games so I can’t complain.

“It’s a tight league this year with the likes of Parley and Weymouth close behind us and Merley.

“We’ve all got each other to play again and it’s all up for grabs.”

On who has impressed him in the Portland ranks so far this term, he continued: “It’s been a really good squad performance.

“No-one has really streaked ahead in terms of goals, they’ve come from all departments, and for the best part we’ve defended well.

“Ed Bastick has had a good couple of weeks but I don’t really like singling people out, it’s about the squad as a whole.”

Injured duo Ross Doidge and Alex Halloran miss tomorrow’s game, Lewis Clarke is unavailable, but Dan Austin does return.

Weymouth Reserves can open the gap between them and the chasing pack tomorrow.

The Terras, in fifth, go to Shaftesbury Town (2pm), the side one place and five points behind Jake Richmond’s men.

Two goals from Conor Jevon helped the Terras beat Shaftesbury 3-2 at the Bob Lucas Stadium in August, while the visitors to Cockrams are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run.

Meanwhile, Blandford United entertain league leaders Merley at the Recreation Ground (2pm).

Bradley Asagba’s hosts came off second best to Westland Sports last weekend, losing a nine-goal thriller 5-4.

The Blandford boss will no doubt want to see his team defend a lot better when they face table-toppers Merley.