MONEYFIELDS 2

PORTLAND UNITED 2

PORTLAND United showed tremendous grit and determination to dig in and claim a comeback 2-2 draw at Wessex League Premier Division big guns Moneyfields.

Franklyn Clarke’s men had trailed 2-0 early on but fought hard to gain a point as Greg Borthwick and a late goal from the impressive George Stuttle restored parity.

Moneyfields had taken voluntary relegation to the ninth tier due to financial reasons and are well placed in ninth with as many as four games in hand on some teams above them.

Added to a long trip to Portsmouth for Portland’s young squad and this was a sizeable task – complicated by a poor start in defence.

READ MORE: Poole Town 3-0 Portland United - match report

Portland were caught trying to play out from the back on a tricky Dover Road surface, Matt McGlinchey nipping in and striking a fierce shot into the bottom corner seven minutes in.

Moneyfields moved 2-0 up after 15 minutes when Josh Bailey was upended in the box for a penalty, allowing Declan Seiden to convert past keeper Mike Edgar.

Portland, playing in a new white away strip, were under the pump again when Edgar saved smartly from Seiden before denying Jordan Pile.

His efforts were rewarded when Borthwick hauled the Blues back into the game, the striker showing good composure to finish Ben Morris’ delivery.

Borthwick forced Moneys’ keeper Callam McGeorge into a good save before half-time but the hosts nearly went 3-1 up with 25 minutes to play, birthday boy Harry Thomas clearing Thomas Cain’s effort off the line.

And battling Portland grabbed a deserved point when teenager Stuttle, in just his second game for the club, turned and shot with enough power to beat McGeorge in the 83rd minute.

Speaking to Echosport, Clarke felt the draw proved Portland have learned how to keep belief despite going 2-0 down.

He said: “I know we haven’t won but I just feel so proud that the lads went behind with two sloppy goals early doors and haven’t folded.

“They’ve stepped up with the right character and mentality to come back.

“To come back and get a point away there, it just shows where we’re at now. We’re a different side.

“If you go back to August or September, we’d have lost that game by four or five. It’s just a different mentality now.

“I said the lessons we need to learn are that when you’re 2-0 down, just stay in the game. When you get a goal it puts pressure on the opposition.

“If you have a little bit of quality again, you can get a result. I looked around the dressing room and I felt every player believed. That’s when you know you’re in a good place.

“We know now we can come back from 2-0 down and get a point.

“To do it at Moneyfields makes it that bit better.”

Blues: Edgar, Thomas, Hutchinson, Stuttle, Poole, M Smith, Morris, F Clarke (Diaz 85), Hewitt, Borthwick, Wilson (Kelly 72). Subs not used: Walbridge, B Smith.

Attendance: 93