PORTLAND Red Triangle skipper Matt Randell insists the islanders “have to win” against fellow strugglers Shillingstone at Reforne tomorrow (1.30pm) to avoid a scrap in the second half of the County Division One season.

Randell’s men have suffered five successive defeats and host the north Dorset side in a bottom-of-the-table clash, with the visitors sitting directly above them, four points ahead.

And the Portland captain is eyeing a win during a streak of three games against Cattistock and Cerne Valley that he feels are winnable.

He told Echosport: “We have to win, otherwise we’re going to struggle for the second half of the season.

“When you look at the teams we’ve played they’re up in the top six so we’re really targeting the next three and we can hopefully get off to a winning streak.

“The season has not gone to plan at all but we are where we are. These are the big games now. The games against some of the lower teams we have to put some focus on so we’re not in the bottom two come the end of the season.”

Randell insists his charges remain upbeat, saying: “We’re still trying to be positive and they’re working a little bit harder than the last couple of weeks.

“They all know there’s something that’s not gone right and they’re willing to change some techniques and try to get into a winning mentality. We’re still going to be aggressive but we’re looking to do it in a controlled way.”

Matt Barrett and Ryan Price are unavailable, meaning Gus Galloway and Dave Adkins come in, while Chris Leake could also feature.

Portland (from): Emery, Laws, D Adkins, Proffitt, Whisker, Randell, S Barrett, J Adkins, Sloane, Galloway, Leake, Samuel