WHITCHURCH UNITED 0

PORTLAND UNITED 4

PORTLAND United extended their fine run of form with a comfortable 4-0 victory against Whitchurch United.

The visitors put in a professional display in the first half, battling to earn the right to play and getting their reward when Darren Watts struck an effort from outside the area which flew into the top corner.

The Blues had three or four other chances during the opening period but failed the make them count, but did an excellent job of limiting the threat of Whitchurch’s attack.

In the second period, Portland passed the ball around excellently in an attacking move, before it was squared to Alex Godfrey who slotted home with ease.

It was 3-0 not long after as Godfrey broke the defence’s line and finished once again to put the game beyond doubt.

Portland dominated in the second period, and put the icing on the cake when substitute Ryan McKechnie finished an excellent team move to wrap up the points for Gary Bailey’s men, and safe to say, the manager was delighted.

He said: “I couldn’t be happier. Teams have gone there and struggled and their manager said the football we played on a difficult pitch was some of the best they’ve seen, so that’s a big compliment.

“It was a potential banana skin because it’s never easy to come away from home. It’s a long trip and it’s easy to take your eye off the ball, but the first half was thoroughly professional and the second half we were dominant and went on to win it.

“Our backline and defensive line deserved a clean sheet for their effort, and the lads who scored deserved it because we played some excellent stuff on a difficult pitch.”

The result extended the club’s excellent form, but Bailey is keen to keep his feet on the ground.

He said: “We’re in a run of games now, we just need to keep going. We’ve set the standard for ourselves and we just need to take each game as it comes. As long we stick to that standard and play to that level, whatever the result is I can’t ask any more of them.

“The time will come when this run of form comes to an end, but while it’s here we’ll look forward to every game, the changing room is confident and we can’t wait for training sessions and games to come around.”

Blues: Lillington, Smith, Whyton, Carmichael, Clarke (Bessant 75), Halloran (Doidge 62), Buckler, Watts, Bastick (McKechnie 62), Beasley, Godfrey