PORTLAND United manager Simon Browne admitted it was “galling” to concede a 97th minute equaliser as his side drew 2-2 with Lymington Town at Grove Corner in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division.

The Blues opened the scoring through Lewis Clarke, before Alex Godfrey restored Portland’s lead after Nick Magee had levelled. Ash Jarvis then went clean through and scored with the last kick of the game.

With the officials signalling five minutes of added time, Browne said it was “perplexing” that the referee had allowed play to continue for another two minutes.

He told Echosport: “I don’t know where the referee got the extra two minutes from. He said there were five minutes to play and he went to 52 by the time the final whistle went. That was a bit perplexing.

“There were no breaks in play and not many substitutions either. It was a bit galling to concede so late in the game. We made all of the running really. We’re just guilty of not taking the chances to kill the game off.

“I’m not sure if I should be happy that we’re playing really well and creating chances or disappointed that we should be nine points out of nine.”

Clarke gave Portland the lead on 20 minutes, whipping the ball into the net with a short backlift, before Magee equalised two minutes after the break, tucking in a low cross when unmarked at the far post.

Godfrey put the Blues 2-1 up after pouncing on a goalkeeping error, but Jarvis had the final say in a dramatic finale. Portland had kept the ball by the Lymington corner flag, but it bounced back in play and the visitors quickly sent Jarvis clean through to grab a share of the points.

Asked if the concession of late goals was becoming a worry, Browne said he was “not concerned”.

“Sometimes it is an inevitability that more late goals are scored. I’m not concerned that we are conceding goals when we are, I want to score goals to kill those teams off.

“It wouldn’t have made a blind bit of difference if we were three or four nil up at half-time,” he added.

Next up for Portland is their FA Cup first preliminary round clash against Paulton Rovers at Grove Corner on Saturday (3pm).

Rovers ply their trade in the Evo-Stik Southern League West, one league higher than their hosts.

Blues: Lillington, Smith, Payne (Mitchell 65), Buckler, Bessant, Whyton, Doidge, Halloran, McKechnie, Godfrey, Clarke (Ayunga 85)

Subs not used: Diaz, Hibbs, Camp