Under-16 Division Three

PORTLAND TOWN 5 WEYMOUTH WANDERERS 0

A GREAT second-half performance from Portland proved too much for a tiring Wanderers’ side.

This first game of the season against rivals Weymouth was typically end to end.

Wanderers started the brighter and could have been ahead after only two minutes but a great full-length save from Town’s Greg Triplett kept the scores level.

The islanders’ left-winger Josh Basquil tormented the Wand-erers’ back four all game and he should have scored a hat-trick but for some wayward shots.

It was nip and tuck until the last minute of the half when Town striker Cieran Bray raced through and laid a beautiful ball into the path of right-winger Harrison McCune who finished with aplomb.

Within five minutes of the second period, the hosts were 3-0 ahead.

First McCune found Basquil on the edge of the area and he shot into the corner of the net.

Midfield duo Moses Lewis and Luke Barber combined well in the middle and caused the visitors endless problems as the hosts dominated.

Lewis then chipped the ball over the Wanderers’ back line for McCune to score his second.

Man of the match Barber played in captain Jack Atkins who, in turn, played a great ball to Bray who charged into the area and thumped the ball high into the net.

Bray was not finished as he put in a hopeful ball into the area and McCune nipped in to score his third and Town’s fifth.

It could have been more but substitute Jay Judkins ran through the entire defence but his shot went sailing over the bar.

Manager Paul Barber said: “We started really slowly and allowed the opposition to come at us but, in the second half, we played some lovely football and I’m proud of the way the boys stuck at it.”

Ricol Leisure Man of the Match: Luke Barber