SWANAGE TOWN & HERSTON RES 0

PORTLAND TOWN 1

PORTLAND Town went 11 games unbeaten with a 1-0 victory over Swanage Town & Herston Reserves in Dorset League Division One.

Town faced stiff opposition as hosts Swanage were able to strengthen due to their first team having no fixture in the Dorset Premier League.

The bolstered Swans played the ball around with confidence in the early stages as Town failed to get to grips with the bobbly pitch.

Sam Wilcocks brushed a post on 10 minutes as the Swans looked for a first win of the season.

READ MORE: Portland Town 2-1 Wool United - match report

However, against the run of play, Town took the lead, Steve Lambert playing a neat ball over the back line and Kev Paice firing home.

Soon after Gary Harvey almost extended the lead when he just failed to make contact with a Callum Allison cross from six yards.

Dave Best was pulling strings in the Swans' midfield but the hosts lacked a killer edge as both Wilcocks and Flo Bujour were well marshalled by an organised Town back line.

Swans gave Town a scare late in the half when a free-kick from Joe Clarke was tipped onto the bar by the returning Chris Theakstone.

Boss Kieron Howes handed a clear message to Town at half-time to work harder in and out of possession and, although Swanage had better possession, Town always looked the more dangerous.

Tom Cherry saw a shot tipped over and Harvey was denied when one-on-one when he got a toe to a goalbound effort.

Cherry and Paice then breached the back line but chose to shoot from a tight angle when others were well placed as Town looked to finish the game.

While it remained just the one goal you felt there may be one last chance for the Swans but any crosses that came in during a late flurry were well defended by a determined back line.

Town on the day had to substitute the substitute three times as they picked up a number of injuries in a physical encounter played in good spirits.

Portland next face a crunch trip to leaders Bournemouth Electric as top face second.

Town: Theakstone, Paul (Clifford, Cherry, Pettitt), M Lambert, Attree, Townley, S Lambert, Sonner, Christopher, Paice, Harvey, Allison.

Tom and Erin's Cafe man of the match: Mark Lambert