OKEFORD UNITED 0 PORTLAND UNITED RES 4

CHRIS Hicks’ Portland side coasted to a fourth win in their last five Dorset Senior League outings with a routine victory at the Recreation Ground.

Goals from Ross Boatswain, James Turrell, Simon Crouch and substitute Ben Turner made sure of a comfortable three points for the visitors.

The only negatives for Hicks were injuries to Josh Burton and Steve Churchill inside the first 20 minutes.

It was not long after they had been replaced by Hicks and Simon Austin that Boatswain made it 1-0 following good play from Crouch.

Portland’s dominance continued in the second half and Turrell doubled their lead, volleying in after a corner was initially cleared.

Turrell had a hand in his side’s third when the midfielder’s shot from outside the box hit the bar and Crouch was first to the rebound.

With Okeford having a man sent off there was never any danger of them staging a comeback and Turner, on for James Hansford, tapped in for 4-0 after being found by Crouch.

“It was fairly comfortable in the end,” said Hicks. “Okeford have got a decent enough group of players but they don’t have the quality in their squad.

“We had to make a couple of enforced changes in the first 20 minutes but we were always in control.

“I’d have liked to have got a few more goals as the result didn’t completely reflect the dominance we had.

“But I was pleased with the three points and we can try and follow that up this Saturday.”

Churchill is struggling to be fit for the visit of Corfe Mullen United to Grove Corner after taking a nasty bang to his knee.

Meanwhile, Burton tweaked a hamstring but stands a much better chance of being available for the weekend.

Hicks added: “We weren’t at our absolute best at Okeford but what we did was good enough.

“You’ve got to be careful when you play sides at the bottom because sometimes they can drag you down to their level.”

Blues: Bickerstaff, A Gould, Whyton, Burton (Hicks 20), Bessant, Hansford (Turner 75), J Turrell, Camp, Boatswain, Churchill (Austin 20), Crouch