HAMBLE CLUB 2

Kendall, Rowe

PORTLAND UNITED 3

Watts (2), Beasley

A DARREN Watts brace followed by a late Jamie Beasley strike sealed all three points for Portland at Hamble Club in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division.

It was a good display from the Blues that sees them up to fourth in the table, level on points with second-placed Sholing but having played two games more.

Portland started well and the Blues rightly led after Watts secured his first strike after 10 minutes.

Max Buckler picked the ball up in midfield before playing a good ball to Watts who finished well.

It was a quiet half for Portland goalkeeper Jordan Tewkesbury, who only had to make one save when he pushed a strike on to the bar.

The two sides went in at the break but further drama was to follow in a pulsating second half.

Hamble started brightly and it would not be long before it paid off for them.

The hosts equalised when they pressured the Blues’ backline before Crit Clarke headed back to the goalkeeper but saw it intercepted by the Hamble striker who finished past Tewkesbury.

However, the Blues responded well with Watts notching his second 10 minutes later following good work in the build-up from Jamie Symes.

A lapse in concentration allowed Hamble to equalise after 70 minutes when Tewkesbury made a save but saw the shot rebound away for an easy tap-in.

Yet the Blues again responded with a great spell of pressure for 15 minutes with a couple of chances and were camped in the Hamble half. However, Beasley popped up with two minutes to go with a great run inside followed by a superb finish to hand Portland all three points.

Overall Portland deserved to win the game and got their reward with Beasley’s late strike.

Blues’ boss Brendon King said: “I am really pleased to be fair, it was a pretty decent performance apart from a couple of lapses.

“The goals conceded were a little bit disappointing from our point of view, it was a couple of individual errors for both goals.

“It does not help when you sort of gift sides goals but we showed good character.”

Portland host Hamworthy United on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Portland: Tewkesbury, Bessant, Walker, S Buckler, Clarke, McKechnie (Whyton 80), M Buckler, Watts (Godfrey 72), Bastick (Smith 60), Beasley, Symes