PORTLAND UNITED 6 POOLE BOROUGH 0

HAMWORTHY Recreation ended Portland United’s reign as Dorset Premier League champions on Saturday but Blues' boss Gary Bailey was still very proud of the fight his men put up in the defence of their crown.

A 2-1 defeat of Weymouth Reserves at the Bob Lucas Stadium gave Hamworthy the title, ending the islanders’ hopes of claiming a third successive championship in the process.

“Fair play to Ham Rec and congratulations to their manager Keith Whatling,” said a magnanimous Bailey after his side’s 6-0 thrashing of Poole.

“They are a very good side and are worthy winners of the league this season, though we put up a pretty good defence of the title.

“With all of the injuries we’ve had I’m proud of the way we held on for so long and took it to the penultimate game of the season.

“You always over-analyse these things but the biggest thing for us was the injuries.

“Losing Alex Halloran in November for the rest of the season and Ross Doidge for 12 weeks was always going to be tough.”

As for Saturday’s clash, the Blues only led 1-0 at half-time through an Adam Linaker goal on 20 minutes but they asserted their dominance in the second period with five more strikes.

Ashley Smith netted the second soon after the interval, Ross Carmichael added a third with a long-range effort, and Lewis Clarke poked home the fourth in the 65th minute.

Smith then scored arguably the pick of the six goals as he grabbed his second courtesy of a fierce shot on the turn.

And there was also another for Clarke, who again converted from just a few yards out.

“It was a good performance from us in the second half,” added Bailey. “We huffed and puffed a bit in the first half.

“But we came out a lot brighter in the second half and we were more dynamic.

“We ended up scoring at will and I thought it was going to be double figures at one point.

“Poole came to restrict us and they did that in the first half, but after half-time we relaxed and really dominated.

“Dan Austin and Ross Carmichael at the back were exemplary for us. They weren’t under a huge amount of pressure but they were both excellent.”

Portland are still hoping to finish the season with a 100 per cent record at Grove Corner and they could do that in their final game of the campaign this weekend against third-placed Merley Cobham Sports, who lost 4-2 to Bridport Reserves on Saturday.

Blues: Bickerstaff, Bessant (Camp 60), Austin, Carmichael, Holland, Smith, Bastick, McKechnie (Reader 75), Whyton, Linaker (May 65), Clarke. Subs not used: Jackson, Mutch.

Match ball sponsor: Glenys Stewkesbury

Programme sponsor: Jim Hinde and Sally