PORTLAND UNITED 1

HAMWORTHY UNITED 5

PORTLAND United were thrashed 5-1 by a ruthless Hamworthy United in their Dorset derby at the Camp & Satherley Stadium.

Hamworthy, chasing promotion from the Wessex League Premier Division, were put on the backfoot by a fluent Portland early on.

The Blues, without self-isolating manager Franklyn Clarke, weathered an early chance for ex-islander Jamie Beasley, with skipper Ryan McKechnie clearing off the line.

Portland settled afterwards and former Dorchester keeper Shane Murphy saved superbly from a golden chance for Greg Borthwick.

However, the Blues were dealt a hammer blow with two goals in two minutes, the first coming against the run of play from Cam Munn.

READ MORE: Shaftesbury 3-1 Portland United - match report

Oli Lowes then managed to divert a cross past home keeper Mike Edgar for an own goal, leaving Portland with a steep hill to climb.

Edgar kept Portland in it with a strong save but on the stroke of half-time McKechnie committed a foul in the box, allowing Munn to notch his brace.

At 3-0 down Portland, playing in front of 185 fans – their biggest gate of the season – were given a lifeline by Joel Hewitt, who fired home from Matty Burrows’ pass.

With the next goal appearing to be crucial, Hamworthy were the ones to claim it, in freakish circumstances.

Portland aimed a clearance off the back off a Hamworthy shirt, leading to an attack from which Max Wilcock scored in the 53rd minute.

Midway through the half, Portland were incensed when a red card was not brandished for an alleged push in the face of Burrows.

And 10 minutes from time, another ex-Dorchester player, Sam Lanahan, grabbed a fifth to wrap up the points.

There was still time for a late red card as McKechnie prevented a goalscoring chance with his hand, earning his second dismissal in as many games.

Speaking to Echosport, Blues' assistant boss Sam Poole said: “We never gave ourselves a platform to go and get anything from the game.

“Three goals from them in first half and we managed to get one back. The next goal was always going to be the big one.

“Had we got it, it was 3-2 and probably a different second half.”

He added: “I just felt it was a Portland going back almost to the early part of the season. We all put our hands up.

“Nobody played to the levels they’ve been playing at in the last few months. That was the most disappointing thing.

“Had we done that it would’ve been a different score.”

Blues: Edgar, Lowes, Hutchinson, Williams, Poole, Smith, Morris, McKechnie, Borthwick (Walbridge 58), Hewitt (Weedon 70), Burrows. Subs not used: Thomas, Diaz, Sayers

Match sponsor: Tony Pidgley.

Match ball sponsor: Cobby Gould.

Mascots: Lee Boatswain, Noah Pidgley, Erza Jansz-Baker, Darcey Paul and Billy Canham.

Attendance: 185