PORTLAND United chief Gary Bailey reflected on what has been a blistering opening to his side’s first campaign back in the Sydenhams Wessex League.

The Blues, currently second in Wessex Division One, took nine points from a possible 12 in a testing August schedule, which included four away trips on the spin.

But, with Grove Corner ready to host the Blues’ first home game since gaining promotion this Saturday against AFC Stoneham (3pm), the island boss believes they can go into the encounter with a spring in their step.

“If you were going to offer me nine points from the first four games, especially with all four being away, I would have snapped your hand off,” he told Echosport.

“The league position is kind of immaterial right now but to get three wins out of four and be unlucky not to come away with something at Romsey as well was a very encouraging month for us.

“Credit must go to the players because it has not been easy to do four away games on the bounce and they are not just round the corner either. I am delighted with that return.

“The players have shown a terrific attitude. They haven’t moaned or grumbled, they have embraced it and the challenge now is to take that into our home games.

“We need to make sure Portland is a difficult place for other teams to come and, if we play to our potential, it will be.”

One of the highlights for the Blues so far this term has been the threat they pose going forward.

Portland have racked up a total of 15 goals in their opening four games, more than anyone else in the division.

Bailey added: “People were saying to me all the way through pre-season ‘I don’t know where your goals are going to come from’.

“I don’t want to jeopardise it, but I always knew that with the quality we have in the side going forward, we are probably not going to have a 25 or 30 goals per season player but we are going to create lots of chances for different people.

“It is nice that the goals are being shared around and it shows that we are getting our creative players in good areas of the pitch.

“I want to pay testament to the defensive side of it as well. In four games away from home the defence and defensive midfield have been excellent, and that is what has given us a foothold in the games to go on and win them.”

He added: “Our fitness has been very good as well and it’s no surprise that we have gone on in the second half of games. That speaks volumes for how much the boys want to work for each other.

“We spoke long and hard about that with the players when they signed. We knew we were fit but we were coasting in games last year.

“We knew if we were going to make the step up and do it properly then we had to come in and pre-season well.

“The players’ approach so far has been superb and I can’t fault them.”