BAFFINS M’TON ROVERS 3

Boam 33 Miller 45 Leigh 60

PORTLAND UNITED 0

PORTLAND United again had a man sent off en route to a 3-0 defeat away at Baffins Milton Rovers in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division.

Sean Stewart was issued a straight red card after 25 minutes for an off-the-ball incident, collecting Portland’s sixth sending off in six games.

The Blues started off well and were able to limit Baffins to few chances.

Portland had a game plan, but it was blown apart with Stewart’s sending off.

With 12 minutes to go until the end of the first half, Baffins broke away after the Blues lost the ball in midfield, and Blu Boam slotted the ball past Michael Edgar in the Portland goal.

Just before half-time, the home side struck again with a stunning effort from Brandon Miller 30 yards out to double their lead.

In the second half, Portland missed an early chance.

Lewis Clarke crossed the ball over to Jamie Beasley at the far-post who should have done better.

However, Baffins then retaliated in cruel fashion.

A free-kick saw the ball lofted into the box, and Ashton Leigh volleyed into the net to round off the scoring for the home side.

Portland were able to craft some good chances however, such as when Beasley combined well with Darren Watts to send Harry Hutchinson through, who crossed over to Bailey Rowe to head wide.

Rowe then picked up the ball 35 yards out, beat three players and had a shot sail wide.

Baffins were able to hit Portland on the break and Edgar had to be alert as Portland tired in the last 10 minutes but the Blues could not rescue a consolation.

King said: “It was always going to be difficult. We had 11 missing, through suspension, injury and unavailability.

“We were up against it from the start so it did not help Stewart getting sent off after 25 minutes.”

However, King made it clear he wanted to focus on the performance of the young players in the squad, which saw starting debuts for Emmanuel Roche and Hutchinson, as well as ex-Weymouth youngster Rowe, while Lance Wilson and Sol Roche came off the bench.

Che Curran also played right-back, while Jamie Symes played in defence.

King said: “We had some young lads play and I thought they were excellent, the senior players who played were excellent and the commitment and the work rate and their attitude was spot on. I cannot ask any more than that.

“We lost the game but overall if I look at the bigger picture of it I was quite pleased with certain aspects of the game.”

Portland host Horndean in the Sydenhams Football League Cup semi-final tomorrow (7.45pm).

Baffins Milton Rovers: Scott, Tan, Williams, Wedlake, A Leigh, Grimshaw, Dart, Evans, Boam, Paddon, Miller.

Subs: Cornish, T Leigh, Haly, Mason, Kaycase

Portland: Edgar, Curran, Symes, C Clarke, Hutchinson, Stewart, E Roche (Wilson 75), Watts, L Clarke (S Roche 65), Beasley, Rowe

Subs not used: Richardson

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