PORTLAND United have snapped up former Dorchester Town man Alex Godfrey, following their first win of pre-season at Hamworthy Recreation.

Godfrey started as part of a front two for the Blues and lasted the majority of the encounter at Magna Road, against the side that beat the island club to the Dorset Premier League title last season.

And while manager Gary Bailey — whose side step up to Sydenhams Wessex Division One this season — was delighted with his side’s 3-0 victory over Rec, his night was capped off by getting Godfrey on board.

Commenting on his new recruit’s display, the Grove Corner boss told Echosport: “He played very well.

“He slotted in really well and knows most of the lads.

He was at the club when he was younger anyway and a good majority of the lads know him.

“He came off with a bit of a sore leg because he hasn’t played a lot recently but he lasted about 85 minutes, which was good because he has been a bit starved of football recently.

“We had a good chat afterwards and he has now signed.

“I played him up front as one of the two and he linked up very nicely, that’s kind of where I want to play him.”

The Blues’ boss admitted it was difficult to lure Godfrey back to Portland from Dorchester, but insists it could be the platform he needs to kick his career on.

“When you are ambitious you want to stay there and force yourself into the team,” Bailey added.

“That’s rightly so and I expect lads to be ambitious but, from my point of view and how I put it to him, is that he has been patient there and his chances have been very few and far between.

“If he can come to us for two or three seasons and make a big impact than I’m sure the door is not shut for him.

“It’s not like he has to think ‘that’s the end of my time at Dorchester, or at that level,’ sometimes you have to go elsewhere to prove you can get a move back.

“If we can play a part in that then great and in the meantime he will be a fantastic player for us.”

  • A brace for the returning Ryan McKechnie alongside an early Ed Bastick strike meant the Blues’ emerged victorious.