FAREHAM TOWN 1

Carrera 45

PORTLAND UNITED 0

PORTLAND United missed a barrage of chances as Fareham Town edged a 1-0 victory in their Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division clash at the Cams Alders Stadium.

The Blues twice hit the post but a solitary Andrea Carrera strike in first-half stoppage time was enough to seal victory for the Creeksiders, who now sit 14th while Portland lie in fourth.

That Fareham came out of the first half with the lead is barely believable given the quantity of excellent opportunities Portland had.

Jamie Beasley was the first Portland man to crack an effort against the post, with Tom Richardson seeing his follow up from 12 yards saved by the home keeper before Ed Bastick chipped over.

Fareham forced Mike Edgar into a good save, the keeper blocking a shot resulting from a poor Ross Doidge backpass.

Bastick then blazed a volley past the bar before Alex Halloran fired three chances over as Portland continued to rue their luck in front of goal, Sam Buckler also missing a header.

Fareham punished the Blues for their misses when Carrera, receiving possession on the edge of the box, drilled past Edgar to score what proved to be the winner.

In the second half, Jamie Symes saw a header saved by the home keeper when he should have scored, while Bastick directed a good headed chance straight at the Reds’ gloveman.

Substitute Bailey Rowe then nodded against the bar from what was the Blues’ most difficult chance as Portland were denied a point.

Fareham could have added to their tally as the Blues pressed for an equaliser but the visitors had Edgar to thank as two good saves kept the score at 1-0.

Speaking to Echosport, Blues’ manager Brendon King admitted his troops’ performance had been below-par.

He said: “We created enough chances that would have won us two games. It’s one of those days, it didn’t fall for us.

“Ultimately, we weren’t great. We lacked a bit of intensity, some urgency, our final ball wasn’t good enough and we didn’t take our chances. You’ve got to put the ball in the onion bag.”

He added: “If we didn’t create chances I’d have a bit more of a problem. On another day we’d win that game four or 5-1 but it didn’t happen. We’ll dust ourselves down and regroup.”

King also confirmed a seven-game ban for midfielder Sean Stewart after an off-the-ball incident in the 3-0 loss at Baffins Milton Rovers led to a straight red card.

Blues: Edgar, Doidge (L Clarke 65), S Buckler, Whyton, C Clarke (Hutchinson 75), M Buckler, Halloran, Bastick, Beasley, Richardson (Rowe 70), Symes.

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