MERLEY COBHAM SPORTS 1 PORTLAND UTD 3

THE Blues stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 games with a commanding victory at Merley Cobham Sports.

Merley were the last team to defeat the islanders back on September 22 but despite pulling level before half-time through Kabba Jack’s spot-kick, it was the visitors that always looked the more threatening side throughout.

Commenting on the 3-1 victory, Portland boss Chris Wilson told Echosport: “In the first 20 minutes we were out of the traps really quick again and pretty much dominated.

“We should have had two or three goals in that period after creating some really good chances, but it wasn’t until Scott Henley got the last touch at a corner that we finally got ahead midway through the half.

“We then failed to finish off a couple more opportunities before Lewis Whyton was forced off just two minutes before half-time after catching an elbow.

“As the interval was just coming up we didn’t make a substitution, and it was just after that when Merley equalised through a penalty following a handball decision given against Ross Carmichael.

“When you don’t take your chances you always run the risk of something like that happening but in the second half we went on to get the second goal through a tidy finish from Adam Linaker, and then grabbed a third late on through Rob Maxted.

“We deserved to win through sheer percentage of possession but although we did well with the ball, we weren’t as good as we should have been without it.

“They nicked a lot of second balls and at times we weren’t switched on enough, which is something we are going to have to improve upon in the coming weeks.”

Maxted’s goal particularly pleased Wilson who is delighted to see the forward back firing on all cylinders.

He added: “Rob picked up a bad ankle injury not so long ago which kept him out for two months, but I told him at Christmas there was an opportunity here for him and it’s great to have him on board.

“He is a big, powerful forward and a real threat, and this is now a superb chance for him.”

The Blues remain second in the Magna Dorset Premier League, one point adrift of leaders Holt United with three games in hand.

Blues: Bickerstaff, McKechnie, Whyton, Henley, Carmichael (Maxted 60), Skelton, Doidge (Mutch 75), Smith (Cranny 60), Conning, Linaker, Toghill.