PORTLAND UNITED 4

BROCKENHURST 0

A JAMIE Symes hat-trick and a goal from Steven Walker saw Portland United cruise to a 4-0 win over Brockenhurst in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division.

Two goals in either half settled the contest at the Weyline Stadium, which the Blues dominated from the outset.

Remarkably, Symes suffered a bang on the head last Saturday, and Portland boss Brendon King admitted he probably should not have played, with Symes having been in hospital on Friday with a blood clot on his head.

However, Symes wanted to play and was given the all-clear by the Portland physio.

The Blues started brightly, and swiftly had their reward.

A corner from Jamie Beasley was whipped across, and the ball fell to Walker in the box who finished with aplomb to hand the Blues the lead after 10 minutes.

Five minutes later, Beasley pressed well and won the ball off the Badgers’ defence and struck a shot from 20 yards, which was parried to Symes who finished from the angle.

The Brockenhurst keeper made another good save from Symes, as well as an effort from Alex Godfrey and Ryan McKechnie.

However, the Blues could not add to their lead and the two sides went in with Portland 2-0 up.

The Blues picked up where they left off but could not find another goal until late on. The Badgers’ goalkeeper made numerous good saves to keep the score down but the Blues made a breakthrough again.

After 85 minutes, a Beasley free-kick found Symes who headed in to bag his brace and put the result beyond doubt.

Symes added further gloss to the scoreline and sealed his hat-trick three minutes later.

Symes beat one player, and then another before finishing across the goalkeeper and into the net.

King said: “It was a good result and a good performance.

“I am really pleased for Symesy, he has been working really hard and he is a really good footballer.

“At the end of the day, he deserves the goals, he could have had a couple more, the goalkeeper has made a couple of good saves.”

The Blues are now four points clear of third-placed Horndean but remain seven points off leaders Sholing, who have a game in hand still to play.

Portland travel to Fareham Town on Saturday (3pm).

Portland: Lillington, Doidge, Clarke, Stewart, Whyton, Walker, McKechnie (Halloran 75), Watts, Symes, Godfrey, Beasley. Subs not used: Butcher, S Buckler

Match Sponsor: The Family of Neil Morris

Match Ball Sponsor: Jackie Trevett

Match Programme Sponsor: Cafe Oasis – Paul Cocks

Man of the match, awarded by sponsors: Jamie Symes

Attendance: 94

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