PORTLAND UNITED 3 TINTINHULL 0

DOMINANT Portland United kept the pressure on the Dorset Premier League’s frontrunners with a comfortable victory over Tintinhull at Grove Corner.

Despite missing a number of key faces, the Blues sealed all three points thanks to goals from Carl Mutch, Charlie May, and a late rocket from Ashley Smith.

With both Hamworthy Recreation and Merley Cobham Sports taking maximum points from their encounters on Saturday, it was vital the Blues kept their title charge on track going into tomorrow's encounter at Cranborne (3pm).

Mutch set the ball rolling for the home side on 11 minutes against the Tinmen with the game’s real first piece of quality.

After the Blues won a free-kick around 25 yards out, he took aim and slotted the ball into the corner of the net, leaving visiting goalkeeper Simon Bleazard helpless.

Lewis Whyton then went close for the Blues after Smith stood the ball up for him at the back post, and minutes later, Gary Bailey’s men had doubled their lead.

A precise ball from the right found Portland’s Charlie May, who spun off his man and struck a sweet effort into the net on the turn to make it 2-0.

Claims for a spot-kick from the home bench were then ignored by the match official and a blistering run from Ryan McKechnie saw him beat two defenders and slide in Whyton, only for the Blues’ captain to lift the ball over the bar.

Into the wind during the second period, Portland lacked a final ball at times and perhaps should have added further to their tally, but up popped Smith in the latter stages to put the game beyond doubt.

He latched on to a ball from deep and showed great composure in drilling the ball into the top corner five minutes from time to put the contest to bed.

Tintinhull’s Loic Herouard threatened with a free-kick late on but Blues’ keeper Ian Bickerstaff was up to the task to keep a clean sheet and help the islanders to their fifth league win in succession.

Manager Bailey told Echosport: “I have mixed feelings but I am generally pleased “I thought our first half domination definitely deserved us to be better in front of goal.

“It’s hard to be disappointed after winning 3-0 but I can’t help feeling it’s a missed opportunity to claw a few goals back and as tight as the league is it might come down to that.

“But we are doing exactly what we need to do, we are racking the wins up and goals are secondary. It’s important we have done that and I thought we never really looked in too much danger.”

Ross Carmichael and Matt Camp are set to come back into the Blues’ squad for tomorrow's trip to Cranborne along with Aiden Jackson and Rob Townley.

However, Bailey will be without Mutch, Ed Bastick and Ross Boatswain who are unavailable.

The island boss added: “Monday will be the same and we will be shuffling the pack again with lads coming in and out of the squad.

“It’s important we keep getting the victories and we will go to Cranborne with our tails up no doubt.”

Blues: Bickerstaff, Boatswain, Holland, Austin, Bessant, Mutch (Bastick 62), Smith, Reader, Whyton, May (Linaker 70), McKechnie. Subs not used: Skelton, Halloran