PORTLAND TOWN 1 PORTESHAM UNITED 3

PORTLAND Town suffered a belated new year’s hangover, as they were rocked by resolute Portesham United.

Returning to action after six weeks without a game, their last contest coming against Parley Sports Reserves, the island club looked to continue their good run of form in Dorset League Division Two.

Town started with good intent and had a couple of early chances through Dean Taylor and Alex Counter but failed to break the deadlock.

And on 25 minutes the Possums struck.

Portland left-back Simon Proffitt was adjudged to have handled inside the area giving the visitors a penalty, which Matt Croxson tucked away.

Around 10 minutes later and Portland’s Gary Prudames, pictured, was chopped down in the box but the referee played advantage as Town still had the ball.

It left top-scorer Counter with a good chance to equalise, but he rattled the crossbar.

With around five minutes to play in the first half, former Town player Jack Huson brought the ball down on the halfway line and hit it on the volley.

Adam Sedwell in the Portland goal got his bearings wrong and saw the ball late as it bounced into the back of the net.

The Possums made it 3-0 after the interval when Croxson charged down a Sedwell clearance and tapped in his second.

Portland then pressed forward to try and get something out of the game, and did grab a consolation with 25 minutes left, as Prudames slotted home from six yards.

On the defeat, Town manager Pete Williams said: “Not playing for six weeks obviously didn’t help but, in my opinion, we were by far the better side and were just not good enough in front of goal.

“On another day we would have scored 10 and won the game comfortably.

“The sad thing is we rarely even tested the Portesham keeper and I have to say that they defended resolutely, especially during the second half.”

Town: Sedwell, Hearn, Sugg, Riley, Proffitt, Norman, Adkins, Prudames, Counter, Gould, Taylor. Subs: Edgar, Russell Ricol Leisure

Man of the Match: Gary Prudames