HORNDEAN 6

PORTLAND UNITED 0

PORTLAND United were outclassed 6-0 at Wessex League Premier Division leaders Horndean.

Franklyn Clarke’s Blues had suffered only one loss in their previous six games but in Horndean they found a side in relentless form.

The Deans have scored 61 goals in 17 games, conceding just nine, and his side gave another indication of their razor-sharp play at both ends by dismissing a much-improved Portland.

It took just seven minutes for Horndean to score as Zack Willett tore down the left before finding Liam Kimber with a precise ball to make it 1-0.

Willett should have made it 2-0 after being played in with a booming Chad Field header but Portland responded when Matty Burrows tumbled in the box, the officials waving play on.

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Horndean were 2-0 up within seconds of Portland keeper Mike Edgar making an athletic save to tip over Connor Duffin’s 18-yard shot.

Deans’ skipper Ash Howes clipped in a free-kick for Field to power in a header on 25 minutes.

Portland, who created chances all game, saw Joel Hewitt send a header over the bar.

Brandon Miller infiltrated the Blues’ box and was adjudged to have been brought down by Sam Poole for a penalty, converted by Duffin.

Portland stepped up their level in the second half as Ben Morris forced keeper Cameron Scott into a sharp save before Hewitt shot wide.

Hewitt then missed Portland’s best chance, guiding a header wide – and three minutes later Horndean went 4-0 up.

The creative Willett provided again, this time for Duffin whose first-time shot defeated Edgar.

Edgar was caught on the ball by Duffin for 5-0, the ball squirming to Tommy Tierney who finished the Deans’ second goal in five minutes.

Late on, Duffin grabbed his hat-trick from a Tallen Burns assist to complete the scoring.

Speaking to Echosport, Clarke had few complaints about the outcome.

“We were beaten by the better team,” he admitted.

“Sometimes you lose games and you deserve to lose because you play against a side that are much better – and that’s what they were.

“That wasn’t through lack of effort from our boys, they grafted again. But they’re top of the league for a reason, they’re so well drilled.

“They all understand exactly what they’re doing. They’ve obviously been together for a long time, you can tell.

“It was actually a good experience for our lads to see what it takes to be top of the league.”

Blues: Edgar, Thomas, Hutchinson, Poole, Griffiths, F Clarke, Morris, Smith, Hewitt (Borthwick 72), Burrows (Weedon 75), Lowes (Williams 46). Sub not used: Walbridge.