MAGNA DORSET PREMIER LEAGUE

AFTER suffering defeat to Merley Cobham Sports at home way back in September, even the most optimistic Portland United fan would have thought twice about predicting it would be their only league reverse heading towards the end of February.

There may have been a few washouts during the five months since that 3-2 loss but the fact remains it is the only hiccup in Portland’s Magna Dorset Premier League campaign to date.

Boss Chris Wilson and his men go to Merley for the reverse fixture on Saturday (2pm) having used that September reverse as a constant reminder of what happens if you go into matches without the right mindset.

“That has been our only blip to date in the losing column,” Wilson told Echosport. “We didn’t perform on the day and they went home with the three points.

“On the day we were more than capable of winning the game but we didn’t turn up with the right attitude and I include myself in that.

“We got an immediate response the week after that defeat and you can learn more from losses than you can wins – and we learnt about ourselves that day.

“At the time we were still a new group of players and finding out about each other.

“Credit goes to the players because they have reacted in the months since that and haven’t lost again in the league.

“We have used that defeat to Merley as a yardstick to measure ourselves against and make sure our attitude is right every week.

“Since then we have only lost in the Senior Cup to Weymouth, so I can’t be too critical of the players.”

While Portland have gone on to challenge for the title, Merley are two places off the bottom of the table.

Jimmy Dailey (knee) is still out injured and misses Saturday's clash while Dan Newnham and Alex Halloran are both unavailable.

Wilson added: “As long as we go up there and the lads apply themselves correctly I’m sure we will come away with the three points.”

Bridport Reserves desperately need to get back on track following a run of four straight defeats.

on Saturday, the Bees travel to Shaftesbury where boss Robin Townsend will be after two things – the victory and a better display of discipline after seeing three of his men sent off in the last five games.

Townsend said: “Gary Bulman starts his five-game ban this week and Tristan Gale’s begins in a week’s time. As for Jamie Fry, we are hoping his will just be a seven-day suspension but we’ll just have to wait and see.

“One thing is for sure, you are not going to win many games with 10 men all the time and that is something we need to address quickly.

“The club is getting fined heavily and we have got to start doing something about it by getting together as a team.

“We need to try and knuckle down now and get back on track, and hopefully on Saturday we will start to do that with a positive result.”

Chickerell United will try to play their Magna Dorset Premier League Cup quarter-final at Hamworthy Recreation (1.30pm) on Saturday after the tie was postponed last Saturday.

The delay has been a blessing in disguise for Chickens’ boss Maurice Welch, who will now have Ashton Butcher and Josh Tennant available while Oscar Preece is likely to be involved after shaking off an ankle problem.