DORCHESTER SPORTS 1

PORTLAND UNITED RES 1

DORCHESTER Sports and Portland United Reserves returned from the Clayson Stadium with a hard-earned 1-1 draw in their Dorset Premier League derby.

The Blues’ current run reads three draws and six defeats in the last nine games.

Sports started strongly but it was Portland who struck first when Sol Roche’s pull back was converted by Lloyd Beals who returned to haunt the club he left mid-season.

After the goal, the hosts increased the pressure and found an equaliser through Gareth Will who rode a couple of challenges before passing the ball into the far corner of the net.

Sports were enjoying the best of the first half and Portland goalkeeper Ross Jones then came to the Blues’ rescue to make two important saves soon after as Jamie Samways was denied before Adam Steele was thwarted one-on-one.

Portland could have taken the lead into the break as Billy Mitchell and Beals forced Sports’ goalkeeper Antony Frost into sharp saves.

In the second half, Portland could have gone ahead almost instantly as Sol Roche got in the area but was unable to finish.

The best chance of the half came as Roche burst through one-on-one with Frost but the home keeper came out on top to deny the Blues’ striker his ninth goal of the season.

Late on, Sports tired and the hosts picked up four bookings. From one resultant free-kick, Aston Butcher’s glancing header drifted agonisingly over the bar and the hosts later survived another headed opportunity.

Che Curran saw red late on for Portland after reacting to a deliberate foul as both sides were forced to settle for a point.

Speaking to Echosport, Sports’ boss Ashley James felt a draw was a fair reflection of the game.

He said: “It’s a fair result in the end. We edged the first half and they edged the second. It was quite an even game.

“It’s frustrating not to win it after the first half but we were lucky not to lose it with 15-20 minutes to go.

“There were a few bookings at the end but I think that was tired legs on our part. Panic set in, they’re a lot younger than we are and unfortunately our legs went a bit. There were a lot of silly free-kicks around our box.

“They nearly scored with a couple of headers and really it was backs to the wall for us.

“We were holding on and luckily we got over the line.

“It’s mixed really because first half we were brilliant. We didn’t come out the same team in the second half, which was disappointing.

“We should’ve gone in three or 4-1 up, their keeper’s made two good saves and we’ve wasted good opportunities when through on goal. Our touch let us down.”

On Beals’ strike, James added: “If anyone was going to get the goal it was probably going to be Lloyd!”

The Blues’ current run reads three draws and six defeats in the last nine games. Blues’ boss, Justin Faulkner, said: “It must have been a good game for the neutrals. It had everything – chances, good saves and strong challenges. A typical local derby.

“Both teams were determined not to give anything away – they probably shaded the first half. We spoke about certain aspects at half-time and made a few adjustments and I would say we shaded the second half.

“I thought their centre-back was probably lucky to be on the field when he made four challenges all worthy of a yellow but only received the one. Other than that I thought the officials had a good game, I can’t complain with the red card which is obviously disappointing.

“I’ve spoken to Che and he knows he has done wrong and up until that moment in the second half we looked the stronger side and we were on top.”

Faulkner added: “This is a tough place to come, Dorchester Sports are a good side with some talented individuals and I’m sure a few teams have and will find it hard to come here and take points.

“For us to come here and take a point – four points from them this season – says a lot about the development of the youngsters we have got coming through.

“Again, seven of the 14-man squad were 20 years-old or younger. Although we haven’t won the game they have matched Sports and could have won it as well.

“I’m proud of what these lads have achieved this season, we may have hit a bad patch at the moment but whatever happens in the last two games we would have achieved what we set out to do and that was to stay up.”

Sports: Frost, Quinton (Amor 80), Read, A Gould, Hill, B Thomas, G Will, Samways (Bagg 80), A Steele, Turland, Ross (Gatehouse 65). Subs not used: Lucas, J Will

Blues: Jones, Curran, Hankin, A Butcher, Anstey, Boatswain (T Butcher), Mitchell (Stavrianos), E Roche, S Roche, Beals, Camp. Sub not used: Thompson.