PORTLAND TOWN 1

BISTERNE UNITED 2

PORTLAND Town lost 2-1 to unbeaten Bisterne United in a battle of second versus third in Dorset League Division One.

The game lived up to its billing as two well organised teams went at each other from the off.

The visitors stormed into the lead in the fourth minute as former Shaftesbury winger Matt Hindle crossed for Tony Belliot to head home from close range.

Bisterne should have made it two as the Town defence started the game in jittery fashion. Bisterne intercepted a misplaced pass, Chris Stones saved from Hindle and Karol Rog fired the rebound over.

READ MORE: Swanage Town & Herston 0-1 Portland Town - match report

From here Town got a grip on the game, smothering the Beavers' midfield and the defence suddenly like a brick wall.

At the other end Tom Cherry was the main threat, time and again getting around the back only to be repelled by the immaculate defending of Harvey Elsom, a recent signing from Verwood.

It was a real cat and mouse affair as both sides probed for openings. Former Bournemouth Poppies player, another recent recruit, Nasim Medah was showing plenty of pace out wide and his shot was well saved low to his left by Stones.

A flurry of corners for Town were well defended by the resolute Bisterne defence and it was a momentary switch off at the other end that allowed the visitors to extend their lead. Johnny Martin was left all alone at the far post as a corner came in and he stabbed home for 2-0.

It was an immediate response from the home side, though. Cherry was involved, breaking into the box on the left and squaring for Will Sonner to sweep home on 44 minutes.

The second half maintained the momentum of the first but defences were on top in the main as the chess match ensued.

With 15 minutes to go Town pushed an extra man on and Bisterne looked like a team hanging on.

Leon Attree saw a shot saved by the toe of the keeper but there was nobody on hand to finish the loose ball, Cherry then saw the visiting custodian parry his near post header.

Stones was called into action at the other end when he palmed away Hindle's piledriver and Joe Watters cleared the danger as the ball dropped goalwards.

In the final action of the game Attree then saw a header cleared off the line as a sub stretched every sinew of his body to get his head to the ball as it headed towards the top corner.

Town visit Bridport Thirds this weekend.

Town: Stones; Paul (Watters), M Lambert, Rogers, Attree, S Lambert, Townley (Hillyar), Christopher, Sonner, Harvey, Cherry. Sub not used: Pettitt

Weymouth Gifts and Fancy Dress man of the match: Will Sonner