Under-18 Division One
PARLEY SPORTS 0 PORTLAND TOWN 2
PORTLAND made it three wins in four and as many clean sheets in that run with a fabulous 2-0 victory at Parley Sports.
A first-half brace from Adam Barrett did the damage and Matty Peart chipped in with an amazing second-half penalty save.
Town didn’t have to wait long to take the lead with the first goal coming after only nine minutes.
Tom Arliss did well to rob the Parley right-back before squaring the ball for Barrett, who took a touch and slammed a shot past the home keeper.
Barrett then doubled his side’s lead in the 26th minute. Danny Clifford beat the Parley keeper to the ball and squared to Barrett for a tap in.
Parley nearly pulled one back when Joe Maynard struck his own post while attempting to clear for a corner, but the ball rebounded kindly to Peart.
There was a moment of controversy on the stroke of half-time when Clifford was crudely taken out by the keeper just four yards from goal, but the referee waved play on with Town expecting a penalty and red card.
Parley pressed hard in the second period and, when they did break through the Town defence, Jake Dalton made a fabulous last-ditch tackle.
Peart then did well to punch clear from a corner before Parley were given a lifeline with 14 minutes remaining.
Charlie Fox brought down an attacker in the box, however, Peart was more than a match for the Parley penalty taker, making a fabulous full-stretch save to preserve Town’s lead.
Parley knew it wasn’t going to be their day when they struck the post again with 10 minutes remaining.
Barrett came close to completing his hat-trick with five minutes left but his effort was blocked by the keeper.
This was another great result for Portland Town and sees them sit comfortably in mid-table.
They can now look forward to an away game at title contenders Bournemouth Poppies on March 23.
Ricol Leisure man of the match: Dennis Calcraft
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