PORTLAND UNITED 2

PARLEY SPORTS 1

GARY Bailey’s Portland United side came from a goal down to earn a vital three points in their hunt for the Dorset Premier League title.

Early second-half strikes from Lewis Whyton and Ryan McKechnie saw the Blues claim a priceless victory at Grove Corner on Saturday.

And speaking to Echosport after the game, Bailey was at pains to stress just how important the win was for his charges.

“If we were to stand any chance of staying in the title race it was imperative we won,” he said.

“You’ve got to keep grinding out results when you’re in contention for the league, and it’s what we did last season when we won it.

“We didn’t play quite as well as we did in our last game against Mere but we dug in when we were a goal down.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult fixture and Parley always raise their game when we play them.

“And they played their part in it. They didn’t give us any time on the ball and worked really hard.

“They probably would have been disappointed not to come away with anything but on chances created I thought we deserved the win.”

Both sides cancelled each other out in a goalless first half, though Bailey felt Portland had the better chances of the two teams.

But after being on top for a large chunk of the half, the hosts paid the price for losing their concentration just after the restart when Parley took the lead from a free-kick.

However, the Blues hit back instantly and Whyton slotted home from a tight angle to make it 1-1.

Two minutes later, and following some good build up play involving Ross Doidge, Lewis Clarke and Adam Linaker, McKechnie thumped a shot past the Parley goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

The game became somewhat scrappy after that, though there were further chances at both ends.

Portland saw a goal ruled out for offside and they had a decent shout for a penalty turned down by the referee.

There was also a penalty appeal at the other end of the pitch when a Parley effort ricocheted into a group of players and the visitors appealed for handball.

But it stayed 2-1 in the hosts’ favour for a result that puts them one point behind second-placed Hamworthy Recreation.

Blues: Bickerstaff, Camp, Austin, Carmichael, Holland, R Doidge, McKechnie, Smith (B Doidge 75), Linaker (May 65), Whyton, Clarke.

Match ball sponsor: Mark Caswell

  • WEYMOUTH Reserves were knocked out of the Dorset Premier League Cup at the semi-final stages after a 2-1 defeat to Hamworthy Recreation at the Bob Lucas Stadium. Conor Jevon was on target for the hosts while Jamie West suffered a bad knee injury in the latter stages.