PORTLAND UNITED 2 BLANDFORD UNITED 1

PORTLAND United kept the Dorset Premier League title race alive for at least another week with a 2-1 win over the Royals at Grove Corner.

However, Hamworthy Recreation could have their hands on the trophy this Saturday after maintaining their four-point advantage over the Blues with a 3-0 defeat of Merley Cobham Sports.

Goals from Lewis Clarke and Adam Linaker helped Portland see off Bradley Asagba’s Blandford, whose goal was scored by the prolific Mark Ford.

“We saw the game out quite comfortably but made it harder for ourselves than it needed to be,” said Portland chief Gary Bailey.

“We shot ourselves in the foot a bit when we allowed them to pull one back after making it 2-0.

“Even though we dominated for most of the game we couldn’t get a third to kill it off.

“And when you are playing against someone like Mark Ford you have to stay focused right to the final whistle.”

Clarke scored with a close-range header on 43 minutes to put Portland in front against Blandford, the striker finishing off Ed Bastick’s accurate centre.

Then Linaker, on for the injured Carl Mutch, doubled the lead in the 65th minute with a shot from six yards.

But the Royals made it 2-1 seconds later when Ford got in behind the home side’s defence to lift the ball over keeper Ian Bickerstaff.

Portland’s penultimate game of the season is against Poole Borough this coming Saturday when Lewis Whyton should be back after missing the Blandford victory through illness.

Blues: Bickerstaff, Camp, Austin, Carmichael, Holland, Bessant, Smith, McKechnie, Bastick (Jackson 65), Mutch (Linaker 35), Clarke.

Match ball sponsor: Jim Hinde and Sally