HOLT UNITED 1 PORTLAND UNITED 2

PORTLAND United’s championship hopes were handed a massive boost on Saturday as they won at Holt and title challengers Wincanton were thumped 5-0 by Wareham Rangers.

After Wincanton had been held to a goalless draw by Weymouth Reserves two days previously the Blues couldn’t have wished for a better weekend as they exacted revenge on Holt after losing to them in the League Cup final last month.

The islanders can cement their position as title favourites today when they host Shaftes-bury Town at Grove Corner while Wincanton entertain Chickerell United (both 3pm).

Chris Wilson’s Blues are now three points ahead of their closest rivals with two games in hand and know that seven points from their remaining five fixtures will guarantee them the Magna Dorset Premier League crown.

With Wilson away due to work commitments, assistant Derek McKay took charge of the team on Saturday and he was delighted to see the Blues fight their way to a 24th league victory of the season.

“On a hard, bumpy and fast-running pitch we played plenty of good football,” he said. “We got our reward in the first half with a Mitch Conning goal after about 20 minutes.

“He chased a lost cause and got between the full-back and the keeper and tucked it away nicely.

“It was never convincing but we played a lot of good stuff and kept possession well although the second half was quite scrappy and there were a few tired legs out there.

“They equalised on the hour but we switched to a 4-4-2 when Carl Mutch came on and were a bit more positive with the ball and Carl held it up well up front.

“Ashley Smith played the ball into the box and Carl got round the back of the defender and slid in to score the winner.

“It was quite tense in the second half and they put us under a bit of pressure at times but our defence was superb and Ashley Weeks in goal made a brilliant save in the last minute.”

Wilson will be back in charge today while Joe Toghill returns to the squad after missing out on the Holt triumph.

They might be odds-on to win the title in some people’s eyes but McKay insists the club isn’t getting carried away. And, he says, they want to do it without having to rely on other sides.

“We don’t want to win the league giving too much credit to other teams for taking points off our rivals,” he added.

“That’s why winning at Holt was really important. We wanted to go there for a win and do ourselves justice after the cup final.

“I think we are seven points off the title now. The lads are enjoying their football and the challenge ahead but it’s not over yet and we’re not complacent.

“We’ve got a strong squad, probably the strongest in the league, but most of them haven’t won the DPL before.”

Blues: Weeks, Carter, Whyton, Henley, Carmichael, Conning, Harris, Halloran, Smith, Doidge (Mutch 70), Maxted (Newnham 80).

Meanwhile, Chickerell United were beaten 2-1 at home to Parley Sports on Saturday.

Ben Bosley scored both Parley’s strikes in the second half after the Chickens had taken the lead through Liam Beades in the first period.

Weymouth Reserves went down 3-1 at struggling Merley Cobham Sports.

Graham Rose (2) and Luke Phillips were the Merley scorers, while the Terras’ strike came via an own goal.

Bridport Reserves returned to winning ways with a single-goal win over Cranborne with the all-important strike coming midway through the first half, also following an own goal.

Elsewhere today, Bridport Reserves host Wareham and Weymouth Reserves go to Swanage Town & Herston (both 3pm).