PORTLAND UNITED 3 TINTINHULL 0

JOE Toghill netted twice as Portland United got back to winning ways at Grove Corner.

The reigning Bespoke Team-wear Dorset Premier League champions have been stuttering of late, but in this latest outing they were by far the better team and deserved their victory.

Two neat passing moves saw Toghill find the net either side of the break before Ed Bastick’s determination and fine cross was turned in by Lewis Clarke for the third.

For United boss Gary Bailey it was the ideal response and he praised his lads afterwards. He said: “The performance was a lot better. We asked the boys for a reaction and that is exactly what we got.

“Tintinhull are a resilient team that are always tough to break down but we remained patient and eventually got the breakthroughs.

“At times, some of our football was excellent while at others, it was a bit scrappy, but overall I was pleased with the display and in particular the clean sheet after conceding seven goals in our previous two games.”

The Blues, who travel to Wareham Rangers on Saturday, currently sit third, three points adrift of table-toppers Hamwor-thy Recreation with a game in hand.

Reflecting on the first six games, Bailey added: “The Wey-mouth defeat last midweek was disappointing but the draw the game before at Poole was even more so. However, I don’t want to keep going over old ground.

“We asked the boys to get back to basics against Tintinhull by first and foremost being hard to beat and that is what they did.

“It is still very early days and as results have already shown everyone will drop points.”

Blues: Weeks, Harris, Whyton, Carmichael, Gould, Smith (Bastick 65), Halloran (B Doidge 75), R Doidge, Toghill, Mutch (Linaker 60), Clarke.