STURMINSTER MARSHALL 0 PORTLAND UNITED 4

BLUES’ chief Gary Bailey was satisfied with the fact that his charges did not panic, as they were made to wait for their decisive goals at Sturminster Marshall.

The score was still goalless when the clock ticked past the hour mark at Surminster Marshall Rec after Ross Doidge saw an effort cleared off the line and Ashley Smith hit a post in the first half.

But Lewis Whyton snuck into a good position at the back post and headed home Alex Halloran’s corner to open the scoring on 65 minutes, and after surviving one further scare Portland came into their own.

A rasping volley from substitute Charlie May cannoned off the crossbar, and although Adam Linaker followed up, the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line from the former’s strike.

Linaker was to get his reward though, as he bagged himself a brace in the space of seven minutes towards the end of the Dorset Premier League contest.

Bailey told Echosport: “It was a really workmanlike performance because it was a tough place to go and a difficult surface to play on for both sides.

“You always want that goal to settle yourselves down but we told them at half-time not to panic, to be patient and keep doing what they were doing.

“The whole team talk at half-time was about patience and they really took it on board.

“I’m glad the goal came when it did because getting into the last half hour you get a bit of desperation creeping into your game and you lose your shape.”

The Grove Corner boss was also full of praise for the impetus that substitutes May and Linaker gave his side in the latter stages.

“Both boys that came off the bench gave us a perfect reaction,” he added.

“You want them to come on and have an impact and that’s exactly what they did.

“It was a thoroughly professional performance.”

The win, United’s 10th in 11 games in the league, puts them in third spot in the standings at present.

Blues: Boyt, Bessant, Whyton, Austin, Holland (May), Carmichael, Halloran, Doidge, Bastick (Price), Clarke, Smith (Linaker)