WEYMOUTH RESERVES 1 PORTLAND UNITED 3

PORTLAND United produced a clinical performance to seal a derby victory, in a nip and tuck encounter against Weymouth Reserves at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

The result sees Gary Bailey’s men keep up their chase for the Dorset Premier League title, against a Terras’ outfit who earned high praise from the island boss.

After a fairly quiet first half where both teams cancelled each other out, it was the Blues who took the lead just short of the hour mark.

The ball fell to Ed Bastick and he drilled a first-time fizzer straight into the bottom corner.

The island club then had the ball in the net two minutes later which was disallowed and Ross Doidge volleyed marginally wide, but they soon doubled their advantage through Carl Mutch.

His run deceived the Terras’ defenders and a bullet header from the Blues’ man put his side in the box seat.

Sean Zima then hit the underside of the bar for the Terras in reply, but the points were then secured when Portland’s Lewis Whyton muscled his way through and put the ball past Ryan Park to make it three for the visitors.

Jamie Beasley did hit a cracker of a consolation goal late on for Jake Richmond’s men with a strike which flew into the net, but on the whole Portland chief Bailey was chuffed to seal another triumph.

“We found the bit of quality we needed which was the crucial difference,” he said. “Weymouth have some very good young lads who work hard for each other and we had to go and beat them, they certainly weren’t going to lie down and give us the points.

“Jake Richmond always get his side up for games and they put a good shift in, it was important we got the first goal because I wouldn’t have wanted to go behind against them.

“With a derby atmosphere it had the potential to go either way.”

Giving his views on the game, Weymouth manager Richmond added: “I feel I let the boys down with a couple of decisions I made in hindsight. I thought my lads were a credit, they kept going right to the very end.

“Josh Tennant was a handful to them all afternoon and they were moaning to the ref because they couldn’t cope with him.

“It’s not sour grapes though, fair credit to Portland, they managed the game really well with the experience they have got.

“They are still third favourites out of the ones left to win it but you never know.”

Terras: Park, West, Staines, Butcher, Anstey, Harvey (Carlile 70), G Will, Beasley, Tennant, Matuszewski, Zima (J Will 80). Sub not used: Richmond

Blues: Bickerstaff, Bessant, Austin, Carmichael, Holland, Mutch (May 75), Bastick (Reader), R Doidge, McKechnie, Smith, Whyton. Sub not used: Camp