FLEET TOWN 1, Portland UNITED 1

PORTLAND blew away any doubts about their ability to hold their own in the Jewson Wessex League with a superb performance at Fleet last night.

They needed a second-half James Reeve goal to take a share of the points - but they left the former Dr Martens League club's ground feeling disappointed that they hadn't taken all three.

"It was unbelievable, we played them off the park," said assistant manager Nick Preston. "We were a bit apprehensive going up there because they finished fourth in the table last season and we would have settled for a draw beforehand. But once we settled down and started believing in ourselves we took the game to them and going down the slope in the second-half we were superb."

Fleet tested the Blues defence early on with long balls to their nippy front men and Paul Myers had to pull of a couple of smart saves.

As the visitors began to find their feet it was Fleet who began to creak and the Blues were desperately unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Mark Fitch was flattened inside the area. Reeve and Fitch also had shots saved by home goalkeeper Mark Watson and Andy Turrell shot over after breaking through the home defence.

But the Blues fell behind in the 31st minute against the run of play when they were caught napping by a quickly taken free-kick.

No-one picked up Fleet's former Thatcham skipper Paul Worsfield who crashed a terrific shot past Myers in a replica of the goal he scored in Fleet's 1-0 win at Downton on Saturday.

Portland's equaliser came in the 73rd minute with Reeve adding another class goal to the four he scored at Swanage. Receiving a pass just inside the area he swivelled to set up a shooting chance and then sent the ball screaming into the top corner.

Watson was then constantly in action as Portland's Fitch, Micky Greeno and Darren Whtyon peppered his goal.

Fleet player-manager, Tommy Taylor, was certainly impressed. "It was a cracking game and on that showing I reckon Portland could well be among the title contenders," he commented.

* Portland Reserves open their Dorset League One programme at home to Chickerell tonight, kick-off 7.30. The Blues squad is George, Daley, D Skelton, Court, Sparshott, Booker, Percy, Squibb, Reader, Holmes, Clements, A Skelton, Dennis, Perkins, Johnson.