WESTLAND SPORTS 5 PORTLAND UNITED 1

PORTLAND United’s title hopes appear all-but over after a crushing defeat at fellow challengers Westland Sports.

Despite still sitting top of the Magna Dorset Premier League, the Blues are now just two points clear of Saturday’s opponents, who hold four games in hand.

And with Hamworthy Recreation and Wincanton Town also very much in the mix, the islanders look destined to lose out in the race for glory.

Boss Stuart Heath, whose side’s consolation effort came via Lewis Whyton, said: “It was a massive disappointment to have such a result in such a big game.

“We started well enough in the first 20 minutes but for much of the remainder of the game they were the better side.

“We were poor in possession and we gave away some very poor goals, and when you combine the two it’s not a recipe for success.

“The scoreline was harsh on us as we had got ourselves back in it at 2-1 with about 25 minutes to go and we felt we could have got something out of the game.

“We pushed players forward as we had to go for it but we left gaps and conceded on the break. But they were still poor goals to concede by our standards.

“However, we can’t get away from the fact that they were the better team and they deserved to win. It may be that they now go on to win the league.

“We go into the last few games with a chance but it’s going to be very difficult to win it now.

“It’s for other teams to lose now but the most important thing is the players owe it to themselves, with all the hard work they have put in, to end the season well.

“It wasn’t a nice feeling after the game but sometimes you need to go through days like that to come back stronger. Hopefully the experience will make them better players for the future.”

The Blues will aim to bounce back when they visit Weymouth Reserves tomorrow night (7pm).

Blues: Carroll, Cranny, Reader, Whyton, Carter, Boatswain, Toghill (Greatrex 70), Litherland, Carmichael (Mutch 75), Halloran, Currell.