DORCHESTER SPORTS RES 1

PORTLAND UNITED RES 2

PORTLAND United Reserves took an excellent 2-1 win in the Dorset Senior League at Dorchester Sports Reserves.

Goals from Lee Sharpe and Sanchez Baker, either side of a Jamie Symes equaliser, were enough to give the Blues' second string all three points.

Coming into the game, both teams were boosted by first team players due to postponements as a result of the recent bad weather.

In the first half Baker wasted a one-on-one opportunity with Josh Camp putting the follow-up wide.

Sean Zima tried a long-range effort that never threatened Sports' goalkeeper and chances were at a premium as the players tried to adapt to the conditions, with the score remaining 0-0 at half-time.

In the second half the pitch began to cut up and players were finding it difficult to find a footing, but Portland controlled the game and started to create some good chances.

Baker did well to roll a defender but fired wide, before Sharpe put a header wide when he found space in the area.

However, the breakthrough came as a clever low drive in to the box by Gould found Sharpe whose effort found the net in what was a soft goal to concede.

Immediately from the restart Sports equalised as Symes scored with an overhead kick but the Blues regained their composure and pushed for the winner, which arrived on 83 minutes as Jordan Moore picked out Baker who made no mistake with the finish to secure the three points.

Blues' reserves' manager Justin Faulkner said: "On the morning of the game I was surprised this game was able to go ahead, the pitch did cut up during the game.

"The difficult pitch was definitely a leveller but we did control the game in the main and with better decisions in the final third could have been a bit more comfortable.

"I'm happy we have taken the three points whilst not playing at our best in difficult conditions. We haven't always been able to do that."

Faulkner added "This is only our ninth league game of the season and we are in February so it's nice to get back playing again, it would be good to get a run of games to get some sort of consistency and hopefully a good run of results.

"In the league we are nine points off third with three games in hand. Although it is a good position we need to be taking the points in those games. It's an old cliche but we will take each game as it comes and whatever will be will be."

Blues: Watt, M Camp, Lambert, Curran, Sharpe, Hawke, J Camp (Jackson), (Gould), Zima, Mitchell (Moore), Baker.