MERLEY COBHAM SPORTS 0 Portland UNITED 1

TEN-MAN Portland United returned to the top of the Magna Dorset Premier League thanks to a predatory finish from Adam Linaker.

The islanders were dealt a huge blow with just 15 minutes gone when defender Sam Pattison was shown a straight red card after clashing with the home keeper.

But Stuart Heath’s title-chasers refused to press the panic button and went on to claim a vital victory in the race for glory.

The Blues’ boss, whose side have now gone 20 league games unbeaten, said: “It was a difficult game as we played 75 minutes with 10 men.

“Sam had a tussle with their keeper and although I didn’t see what happened he must have reacted to something the keeper did.

“We were down to 10 men with only 15 minutes gone but the players were outstanding in dealing with that and we scored 10 minutes later when Adam got the final touch on a shot from Liam Currell.

“The players had to show a lot of discipline and togetherness and while there were some scary moments in the game I felt we deserved to come out of it with three points.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the players for what they are doing at the moment. We are 20 games unbeaten and when their backs are against the wall the players really step up to the plate.

“We had three players – Jimmy Dailey, John Litherland and Andy Perkins – drop out on Friday night and Saturday morning for various reasons and it forced us to shuffle things around.

“But like in the last few weeks, those coming in really stepped up to the mark. We also had to rush Alex Halloran back from injury.

“We didn’t want to but we left it up to him and he showed great commitment.”

The Blues are now three points clear at the summit but second-placed Hamworthy Recreation do hold two games in hand.

Crucially though, the two sides meet at Magna Road this Saturday in a top-of-the-table tussle.

Heath added: “We will keep fighting, as we have always done, until the last whistle of the final game.

“We have one hell of a run-in but you can either be intimidated by it or use it as a positive because when you are playing the teams around you, you have the chance to take points off them.

“If we do win the league we will certainly deserve it.”

Blues: Carroll, Greatrex, Cranny, Pattison, Reader, B Skelton (Carter 65), Toghill (Halloran 75), Carmichael, Grimason, Linaker, Currell.