PORTLAND UNITED 6

McKechnie 25, 66, Clarke 30, Halloran 33, Godfrey 55, Davies (og) 73

TEAM SOLENT 1

Bickley 87

PORTLAND United began the defence of their Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division crown with an easy 6-1 win over an abject Team Solent at Grove Corner.

A brace from Ryan McKechnie, plus goals from Lewis Clarke, Alex Halloran, Alex Godfrey and a Joshua Davies own goal sealed the rout, with Tom Bickley adding a late consolation for the away side.

Portland controlled the match from the outset and on 25 minutes the reigning champions were ahead as McKechnie rifled home from 20 yards.

Solent goalkeeper Joshua Musom gifted the Blues a second five minutes later when his spill found Godfrey, the forward then squaring for Clarke who finished unchallenged from six yards.

Portland added a third soon afterwards when Halloran’s delicious chip evaded Musom.

Solent went down to 10 men when captain Steven Black handled, but Musom superbly saved Halloran’s resultant penalty.

After the break, Portland continued to dominate and Godfrey ended a super run by Clarke to notch Blues’ fourth.

McKechnie grabbed his second having been left horribly unmarked for a simple header, while a calamitous mix-up between Joshua Davies and Musom saw Davies bundle into his own net in embarrassing fashion.

Solent did net a consolation when Tom Bickley ran through on goal, lifting the ball through the hands of home ‘keeper Sean Lillington.

Commenting on a simple first competitive game in charge, Blues’ boss Simon Browne told Echosport: “You can’t knock a 6-1 win first game of the season. We played some very good football to the point where it looked like a training session of attack versus defence.

“We’re disappointed to concede a goal but I guess it was an inevitability because at 80 minutes we’re 6-0 up and could have scored three or four more.”

Blues: Lillington, Smith, Pane, Doidge, Whyton, Buckler (Bessant), Evans (M Camp), McKechnie, Clarke, Godfrey, Halloran (J Camp)

Subs not used: Ayunga

Attendance: 229

n Weymouth Reserves' Sydenham League Division One home clash against Christchurch tonight has been postponed.

The Bob Lucas Stadium pitch was deemed waterlogged after an inspection following heavy rain.