TOTTON & ELING 1 PORTLAND UNITED 2

LEADERS Portland United sealed their eighth win from nine games in Sydenhams Wessex Division One with a hard-fought triumph over Totton & Eling.

Goals from Alex Halloran and Carl McClements coming early in each half ensured Gary Bailey’s men, who have now racked up 37 goals from their opening nine league fixtures, came away from a tricky trip with another three-point haul.

“It was really hard-earned and was a typical away performance. We scored at good times and showed really good resilience and resistance to withstand what was a forceful challenge by Totton & Eling,” the Blues’ manager told Echosport.

“We didn’t win ugly because we played some nice stuff at times but it was a gritty performance and a good away performance.”

The Blues took the lead after just five minutes when McClements’ flick set the ball back for Alex Godfrey. He took the option to set up Halloran, who struck home to make 1-0.

The early goal seemed to settle the Blues and they were dealing well with any direct threat Totton had to throw at them.

But the hosts got back into it and Portland were undone by a set-piece right on the stroke of half-time.

A corner was half cleared by the island outfit but the ball dropped to a Totton man, who put his foot through an effort which went into the bottom corner to level things up.

But the Blues didn’t panic and, after some calming words at the interval, they came out and rapidly restored their advantage.

Winger Ed Bastick drove into the hosts’ area to put a dangerous ball across the six-yard box and McClements was on hand to get across his marker and prod home from close range.

The Blues then suffered a big blow when skipper Lewis Whyton was forced off after picking up a knee injury in a challenge on 65 minutes.

But despite coming under some pressure as the hosts gambled late on, Portland remained strong to bring maximum points back to Grove Corner once again.

Bailey added: “I got more pleasure and satisfaction with us going there and manufacturing a win in tough conditions against a good side than I did watching us coast to an 8-0 win last week.

“These were the challenges that we wanted where we have to perform and we have to dig in a little bit to get those results, and we certainly got that.”

Blues: Lillington, Smith, Bessant, Carmichael, Whyton (R Doidge 65), G Will, Bastick (Jackson 80), Halloran, McClements, Godfrey (Linaker 73), Morris. Sub not used: Critchell