Islanders storm to the summit of Senior League (From Dorset Echo)

Islanders storm to the summit of Senior League

8:44am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Football By Echo Reporter

Portland UNITED RES 2

GILLINGHAM TOWN RES 1

GOALS from Simon Crouch and Tom Bell fired Portland United Reserves to the top of the Dorset Senior League following a hard-fought victory over Gillingham Town Reserves at Grove Corner.

An evenly matched first half saw the Gills take the lead on five minutes.

The Blues were caught cold when a quick slide-rule free-kick opened their defence up and Liam Moores smashed home from close range past a helpless Ian Bickerstaff.

The islanders battled their way back into the game but spurned a number of good opportunities to level, the best of which fell to striker Crouch just before the break as he shot wide.

Three minutes after the interval it was Crouch who stooped with a clinical header to equalise after good work and a sublime cross from his strike partner Bell.

With their tails up, United pushed on and got a deserved winner when a majestic pass from midfield talisman James Turrell picked out Bell, who found the Gills’ defence ajar and hammered home a left-footed drive from an acute angle just as it seemed the chance had gone.

The home side defended solidly to close the game out with Daniel Newnham and Andy Perkins proving particularly tough to break down.

United captain Ben Doidge missed the encounter with a sore neck but should be fit to return to the fold when they host Blandford United Reser-ves this week.