BLANDFORD UTD RES 1 PORTLAND UTD RES 5

PORTLAND Utd Reserves put their recent bad run of form behind them as they demolished a previously unbeaten Blandford United reserve side in the Dorset Senior League.

The island club, who gave some of their first-team squad game time during the contest, went ahead as early as the fifth minute when Karl Edgar played in Aiden Jackson, whose cut back was fired in off a post by Adam Linaker.

Linaker got his second soon after when we converted a low cross from the right with a sweet right-footed strike into the bottom corner, leaving the home keeper with no chance.

Good chances also fell for Mike Revell, Jackson and Edgar before Portland struck again. A Blandford defender steered the ball into his own net while making a last-ditch tackle.

Blandford did pull one back as a long ball into the right hand channel was picked up by their pacey right winger.

Portland keeper Anthony Luque dived at his feet to claim the ball but it bobbled, leaving the Blandford player a tough chance from a tight angle and, somehow, he managed to squeeze it in.

Blandford then exerted some pressure towards the end of the half but Portland held firm, taking a 3-1 lead into the break.

There seemed to be more urgency about the Royals after the interval and they nearly found a second goal as a lobbed shot was well saved by Portland stopper Luque.

At the other end, good chances fell for Linaker, Jackson and Carl Mutch but they could not add to the Blues’ tally.

Portland did manage to extend their advantage though, when Linaker was brought down in the area. He dusted himself down and duly despatched the resulting spot-kick, sending the keeper the wrong way to complete his hat-trick.

Josh Camp and Tom Arliss came off the bench and both made instant impacts, Camp seeing his effort from just outside the box saved by the home keeper whilst Arliss saw his looping shot fall on to the roof of the net.

Portland soon added their fifth as Linaker held the ball up before releasing Jackson to finish emphatically and seal the win.

Reflecting on his side’s display, Portland manager Justin Faulkner said: “It was a great team performance. Our front two were a thorn in their side throughout.

“Having Linaker in there helped us, we have played well in games this season but lacked that finisher to be on the end of things, goals change games.”