PORTLAND UNITED 3 WEYMOUTH RESERVES 0

DERBY DAY spoils in the Dorset Premier league were claimed on the island, as Portland United comfortably ran out winners over Weymouth Reserves.

In a howling wind at Grove Corner, Gary Bailey’s men took advantage of the gust in their favour during the opening period, and took the lead on 15 minutes.

Lewis Whyton opened the scoring when he stabbed the ball over the line from a melee in the Weymouth six-yard box.

And in taking in a one-goal lead at the end of the first half, Bailey’s men performed superbly into the wind after the interval.

The Blues’ second goal came from the penalty spot on the hour mark when Ashley Smith squared the ball into frontman Lewis Clarke, who was bundled over in the area.

He duly picked himself up and slotted the penalty away.

And although Luke Winsper hit the bar from a free-kick in the second half for the Terras, they could not take advantage of the wind being in their favour.

Ten minutes later, the game was all over when Ryan McKechnie’s late run proved fruitful as he got on the end of Alex Halloran’s corner, and cleanly headed the ball into the top corner, leaving Terras’ goalkeeper Warren Boyt with no chance.

“It was an excellent result and I am very pleased,” Portland chief Bailey told Echosport.

“It was very blustery conditions and I thought that was going to make it a game of two halves to be fair, but we coped very well in the second half, we kept it short and played it well.

“They worked hard and tried to frustrate us but we passed the ball well and got it into good areas.

“It’s a great start from us in the league, with six goals and two clean sheets, I couldn’t have asked for more really.”

On his side’s defeat, Terras’ manager Jake Richmond added: “It wasn’t great from us to be honest.

“The wind was horrendous, some goal kicks were reaching the half-way line, others were barely getting out of the 18-yard box, the conditions were very poor but it’s the same for both teams.

“We toughed it out in the first half and we were lucky to get to half-time 1-0 down, more because of the wind than anything else.

“Portland upped their game in the second half and, in all honesty, they wanted it a bit more than us. They fully deserved it.

“I know we are trying to develop players but it’s a local derby and you expect your players to fight for every ball.

“I don’t feel like we did that in the second half.

“Portland are very good at what they do, I don’t think that is the best Portland team by a long way over the last 10 years but they are so well-drilled.

“Gary has them well organised and they are going to be tough to knock off their perch this season because they grind games out and they know how to win.”

Blues: Weeks, Bessant, Whyton, Austen, Holland (Reader 10), McKechnie, Halloran, R Doidge, Smith, Clarke (Price 80), May (Mutch 46). Subs not used: Newnham, Heal

Terras: Boyt, Harvey, Butcher, Anstey, Staines, Beasley (P Ford 80), Chatterton (G Will 60), Pidgley (Zima 65), Winsper, McClements, Tennant. Subs not used: J Will, Zima, Ayley

Match sponsor: Hillary Billimore

Ball Sponsor: Roy and Margret Toute

Attendance: 144

* Bridport Reserves were beaten 2-1 at home by Swanage Town & Herson.