Sherborne White-washed by Blues (From Dorset Echo)

Sherborne White-washed by Blues

8:56am Monday 15th March 2010 in

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SHERBORNE T RES 2 Portland UNITED 3

MATT White made a timely return from injury as he climbed off the bench and fired Portland United to a late Dorset Premier League win at Sherborne Town Reserves.

The dominant Blues were nearly made to pay for failing to take their chances as they twice fell behind in North Dorset.

But Rob Maxted and Alex Halloran struck sweet shots on each occasion to level the scores before White converted from close range to win the game with just two minutes left on the clock.

“Matt has been out for a long time so it was good he came on and scored,” said Portland boss Stuart Heath. “He’s had three or four serious injuries in the last two years so I hope he gets a clear run until the end of the season now.”

The Blues were all over their hosts in the early stages but fell behind just 15 minutes in when they failed to defend a Sherborne cross.

Maxted fired home a left-footed shot on the hour mark to level the scores and Heath changed his side’s formation to 4-3-3, throwing White into the fray.

However, the gamble looked as if it was going to backfire when teenage goalkeeper Ellis Cox brought down an opposition striker, allowing Sherborne to retake the lead from the penalty spot.

But the attacking formation eventually paid dividends when Halloran levelled from the edge of the box, setting up White’s grandstand finish.

“We made it a lot closer than it should have been and had to come back twice to win the game,” added Heath. “For whatever reason we just didn’t convert the number of chances we had but the players proved their character and it was well deserved in the end.

“The scoreline makes it sound like a good game but anyone there would have been amazed at how many chances we actually missed. We just couldn’t put the ball in the net.

“Credit must go to the players because they stuck at it and showed real character, especially when we went 2-1 down with 20 minutes to go.

“Had we got a draw it would have felt like a defeat after how many chances we had, but the players were fantastic.”

Blues: Cox, Charles, Austin, Cranny (Skelton 80), Clarke, Conning, Smith (White 70), Halloran, Turrell, Maxted, Whyton. Subs not used: Mutch, Churchill.