AFC BLANDFORD RES 4 PORTLAND TOWN B 3

PORTLAND Town B continue to prop up the Dorset League at the foot of Division Five but can take heart from their display in Blandford.

Buoyed by their performance in defeat against leaders New WindowMan, the visitors took the game to Blandford early on.

Sammy Maguire, Dylan Riley, Gary Woolf and JJ Ogilvie cause the home defence problems in the opening exchanges, and Town went ahead just six minutes in.

The ball was played to Woolf on the left and, spotting the keeper off his line, he executed a delightful lob from 20 yards.

It was all Town at this point and the back four of Ben White, Paul White, Floyd Musson and Matt Hill cleared up the odd Blandford attack.

Riley had chances to put Town further in front but the finish didn’t match the build up.

These missed chances proved costly for the visitors when the hosts equalised and then took a 2-1 lead into the break.

For the second half, Town pushed Musson into the middle of the park and new recruit Rowan Forty moved forward.

Despite creating further chances, Town were undone on the break and went further behind.

However, they did pull one back five minutes later when Riley fired in a rocket from the edge of the box.

At 3-2 down, Town’s man of the match Paul White conceded a penalty, only for the spot-kick to be blazed high and wide.

Blandford did restore their two-goal cushion a few minutes later when Hill was caught slightly out of position.

Town then threw everything at Blandford and brought on Connor Goddard to aid their chances of making a comeback.

Forty scored from the spot after Woolf had been brought down in the box, setting up a tense finale with Town just one goal behind.

Despite pilling on the pressure the visitors were unable to find another.

Town manager Andy Barber said: “We were the better team from start to finish and with a little more composure we would have been out of sight by half-time.

“I’m disappointed with that but also delighted with the effort of the boys, and the fact we know we can compete.

“I’m sure that first win of the season isn’t going to be too far away.”

Ricol Leisure Man of the Match: Paul White