SHAFTESBURY 0

PORTLAND UNITED 3

Walker 45, 80, Symes 70

STEPHEN Walker netted a brace and Sean Lillington made two saves from the spot as 10-man Portland ran out 3-0 winners at Shaftesbury in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division.

Jamie Symes also bagged a solitary goal as Portland stay second in the table with 32 points, while Ross Doidge was sent off for the Blues late on for accruing two yellow cards.

Shaftesbury started well, and from the start were attacking well and created a good chance inside 10 seconds of the start.

Yet the chance failed to trouble Lillington and after 25 minutes the Blues began to grow into the game.

The Blues eventually took advantage of their dominance right on the stroke of half-time.

A break away saw Jamie Beasley beat the full-back, before being fouled in the process but got the cross in.

The cross evaded everyone and the Rockies’ full-back nearly scored an own goal before the game was brought back for a free-kick.

Alex Godfrey then whipped in a ball for Walker to head the Blues in front prior to half-time.

The Rockies started the second well but again Portland replied.

Max Buckler broke away after 70 minutes fed the ball to Symes who rounded the Rockies’ goalkeeper to put the Blues 2-0 up.

Portland then conceded a penalty, but Lillington dived the right way to make the save.

The Blues responded to the narrow flirtation with danger by getting a free-kick in the Rockies’ half.

The first ball in came back to Beasley, who clipped a ball in for Walker to nab his second of the match.

Portland looked comfortable but Doidge fouled inside the box to hand another penalty away and receive his marching orders.

However, Lillington was again equal to it, as the Blues held onto a deserved clean sheet and all three points which sees them maintain their grip on second place in the table.

Portland manager Brendon King said: “It was a really good win to be fair, it is a tough place to go Shaftesbury, they are not a bad side.

“They certainly made us work for it. In fact they were the better side for the first 20-25 minutes.

“We could not get out of our half, we were a little bit slow getting started.”

Portland United host Brockenhurst on Saturday (3pm).

Portland: Lillington, Doidge, Walker, Whyton, Clarke, Stewart, M Buckler, Godfrey (Halloran 75), Marshallsay, Beasley (Butcher 80), Symes, Subs not used: S Buckler

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