TADLEY CALLEVA               2

PORTLAND UNITED           4

PORTLAND United are now five points clear at the top of Sydenhams Wessex One after they knocked off Tadley Calleva at Barlows Park.

The Blues fell behind on eight minutes after lethal home striker Brett Denham, who bagged 40 goals in 30 games for the hosts last term, pounced on a defensive mistake to put Tadley 1-0 up.

But just nine minutes later, Ed Bastick added to his tally for the campaign to find an equaliser for the Blues.

Alex Godfrey’s trickery ensured he got away from his man, he delivered to Bastick, whose left-foot strike nestled in the net to set the ball rolling for Gary Bailey’s men.

Carl McClements then put Portland ahead after 20 minutes after good work from Ross Carmichael and Ross Doidge.

The former Weymouth marksman then added to his haul for the afternoon five minutes later, heading home Alex Halloran’s corner. Then, at 3-1 down, the hosts gambled, and manager Bailey admitted a change in Tadley’s shape troubled his troops.

He told Echosport: “They made a substitution and changed to a 4-4-2, but they just gambled their wingers on as well and played 4-2-4 almost.

“At times they were playing with four up front. It was certainly a bold move from their manager and fair play to them.”

On 38 minutes, the changes paid dividends as Calleva made it 3-2 when Ryan Stephens put the ball home from a pin-point cross.

But shortly after the break, up popped Godfrey to grab Portland’s fourth. He followed up after Bastick had hit a post.

Bailey added: “We played some of the best football we have played this year.

“Ed Bastick, Alex Halloran, Alex Godfrey and Carl McClements linked up together with some sensational forward play and caused them all sorts of problems.

“We changed our shape defensively slightly at half-time to cope with their weird shape.

“They are a good side and they will take points off people for sure. I am just delighted to come away with all three points.

“To score four goals away from home against a team that were third last year, we are delighted with that for sure.

“People are going to look at the league and say ‘oh the league is not very good’. I’m not having that, we are playing so well and we are justifying it through very good performances.

“We thoroughly deserve to be where we are on merit at the moment.”

Blues: Lillington, Smith, Whyton, Carmichael, Morris (Bessant 60), G Will, Halloran, Doidge (Critchell 80), Bastick, McClements (Mutch 70), Godfrey. Sub not used: Jackson