PORTLAND UNITED RES 2 CORFE MULLEN UNITED 4

INDIVIDUAL errors and poor finishing cost the Blues dear as they suffered a disappointing defeat against Corfe Mullen at Grove Corner.

Portland were arguably the better team on the day and enjoyed a lot of possession but lacklustre play in both boxes saw them finish the game empty-handed.

Player-boss Chris Hicks told Echosport: “The result was far from ideal but we did not play that badly.

“Three individual errors and a bit of a worldy from the edge of the box gave Corfe their four goals and in the end we just couldn’t pull it back.

“On the balance of play we didn’t deserve to lose but fair play to them because they took their chances when they came along whereas we didn’t.”

Ian Bickerstaff had an afternoon to forget and it was his mistake from a corner that led to the opener.

The flight of the cross caught the Portland keeper slightly out of position and although he managed to get his fist to the ball, it ended up rebounding back into the net off the head of an opponent.

The islanders did not deserve that setback so when Bickerstaff conceded another moments later, the signs were perhaps already clear it was not going to be their afternoon.

Josh Burton forced in a corner to cut the deficit before half-time but Corfe went two up again early in the second half courtesy of a fantastic volley.

The mountain the Blues had to climb then became Everest moments later when a mix up between Bickerstaff and substitute Darren Whyton handed the away side a fourth to rub salt in the islanders’ wounds.

Josh Hills turned in a shot from Matt Camp to pull it back to 4-2 before the end but the home side’s frustration was clear come the final whistle.

Hicks added: “We had six or seven missing for various reasons and would have probably settled for a point before the game, so it was disappointing.

“However, all we can do now is look to bounce back with a couple of good results before Christ-mas.”

The Blues, who travel to Gillingham Town Reserves today, now sit fifth in the Dorset Senior League, six points off the top.

Blues: Bickerstaff, Hicks (Evans 75), Burton, Spencely (D Whyton 65), D Skelton, Hills, Austin, Camp, Turrell, Boatswain, Crouch.