HAMWORTHY UNITED RESERVES 1
PORTLAND UNITED 4

Portland United returned to the Magna Dorset Premier League summit after completing the double over their East Dorset opponents.

Hamworthy United Reserves were out for revenge on home turf after suffering a 4-0 defeat at Grove Corner just three weeks previous.

However, the merciless Blues came out on top once again thanks to goals from Ross Doidge, Mitch Conning, Adam Linaker and substitute Joe Toghill.

Island boss Chris Wilson, whose side have 27 points from a possible 30 thus far, said: “They made us work hard for it, especially in the first half.

“They put a lot of work into it but we always felt we had enough quality to see us through the game, and it told in the end.

“Hamworthy put in a real shift in the first half but we said at half-time they would struggle to keep that up for the 90 minutes.

“And so it proved as they dropped off and we really asserted ourselves.

“The lads are really performing well and we’ve now got that consistency in the squad and in the team, which always helps. Any good run is often down to continuity.”

Doidge opened the scoring at the County Ground with a pin-point free-kick after Ashley Smith was brought down.

Conning then doubled the advantage soon after with a neat finish before Linaker struck in the second period.

The woodwork then came to the Hammers’ rescue on more than one occasion as the Blues continued to dominate. However, the hosts were handed a lifeline in the form of a successfully dispatched spot-kick.

But there was to be no miraculous comeback as Toghill came off the bench to latch on to Smith’s excellent through ball and chip the home keeper.

Portland have now replaced Hamworthy Recreation at the top of the table after the Magna Road outfit lost 2-1 at fellow high-fliers Holt United.

Wilson added: “Results went our way but we are still not looking at that, we are just taking things week by week, game by game.”

The Blues are in League Cup action this weekend as they entertain Parley Sports in round two.

Blues: Weeks, Vincent, Henley, Whyton, Dailey (Carmichael), Harris (A Skelton), Halloran, Doidge, Linaker, Conning (Toghill), Smith.