WESTLAND SPORTS 8

Lawrence-Napier, Ormrod 2, Barrett, Herrin, Payne 2, Carney

PORTLAND UNITED RES 0

PORTLAND United Reserves returned from Somerset with a bruising 8-0 defeat to Westland Sports, a result that manager Justin Faulkner says does not tell the story of the game.

In a cagey first 30 minutes it was the Blues that could have been ahead as Sean Zima’s goal-bound effort was blocked by a defender on the line before the goalkeeper made a reflex save from Zima’s drive moments later.

The first goal arrived on 35 minutes, this proving the turning point as the home side ran rampant and added another three before the break.

Portland did push to reduce the arrears and Derek Wall had a good chance but his fierce drive only found the side netting when played through.

After half-time there was no let up from the home side as they kicked in to gear, adding another four before full-time.

Portland still tried to play football and came close to adding one of their own again as Zima tested the home keeper with a low drive.

Faulkner said: “The scoreline looks like a real battering but for 30-35 minutes we contained them and looked the more threatening side.

“Sean had two great chances and had they gone in then it would probably have been a different game.

“More disappointing for me is the players’ reaction to the first goal, it seemed to knock the stuffing out of them and we stopped doing the things that we had for most of the first half.”

Faulkner admitted he knew it was going to be difficult but tempered any thoughts of concern by saying that one game does not make a season.

Faulkner said: “We always knew that this was a very hard game and to get anything we would had to have been at our best and they would have had to have an off day but for a third of the game we worried them.

“We have come up here and given it a go, it has not quite worked but one game does not make a season and I’m sure a few teams will come here and fall to heavy defeats.

“It is a big learning curve for my side, I have told them to take note because they are the benchmark for this league. We cannot wait to get going again to get this one out of our system.”

Portland United Reserves: Jones, Will, Hankin, Attree, Anstey, Hawke, Roche (Ryan 45), Gould (Tennant 60), Wall, S Zima, R Zima (Thompson 70) Subs not used: Curran, T Butcher.

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