ALTON TOWN 1 PORTLAND UNITED 4

PORTLAND United won for the third time on their travels in four games this season, as a late flourish saw them come away victorious at high-flyers Alton Town.

The result puts Gary Bailey’s men second in the league table, having scored more goals than any other side in the division so far.

Saturday’s haul of four goals could have been even more as the Blues had chances to open the scoring before they opened their account.

Tom Peck headed over unmarked, and Ross Carmichael hit the bar from a set-piece in a spell of dominance for the visitors.

But the Blues did eventually take the lead from the penalty spot in what was a pivotal moment, when an Alton striker produced a nasty challenge inside his own box on Alex Halloran.

He was sent off, and up stepped Ross Doidge to convert on 33 minutes.

But a goal and a man up, Portland found themselves level at the break as Alton’s Ashley Peck rifled a blistering strike home.

Bailey then made a slight tactical tweak at half-time to shake things up against the hosts’ 10 men, and with 15 minutes to go they regained the lead.

Substitute Aiden Jackson came off the bench and ran on to a ball from Carl McClements to slot past the goalkeeper one-on-one and make it 2-1 to the Blues.

Jackson was then on hand to add Portland’s third in bizarre circumstances.

He picked up the ball that was gifted to him by a defender, after the Blues did not pursue a chance from an offside position.

The referee allowed the game to go on, Jackson fed McClements whose shot was saved, and the former put home the rebound.

McClements did however get on the scoresheet when he added Portland’s fourth late on.

“I couldn’t be more happy really,” manager Bailey told Echosport. “It was tough and we had to work hard for it, even though the scoreline suggests not."

“They (Alton) will do alright, they are very lively going forward but we restricted them to long balls and very few scares.”

Blues: Lillington, Smith, Whyton, Peck (Jackson 70), Bessant, G Will, Halloran, Doidge (Critchell 60), Carmichael, Godfrey, McClements. Sub not used: J Will