HAMWORTHY REC 9

PORTLAND UNITED RES 0

PORTLAND United were handed a one-sided 9-0 drubbing from leaders Hamworthy Recreation in the Dorset Premier League, with the Blues only able to muster an 11 man squad as injuries, suspensions and first-team call-ups took their toll.

Hamworthy took just six minutes to get off the mark, when Carl Edwards slotted in.

Further strikes were added through a Bradley Hill brace before half-time.

However, the second half was disastrous for the Blues, as they conceded six goals.

Chris Long scored after 54 minutes, before strikes from John Webb, Ashley Boyt and Sam Carter while Long added his second.

Webb wrapped up his brace, Hamworthy’s third of the afternoon, after 78 minutes which proved to be Rec’s last goal of the contest.

Portland United Reserves manager Justin Faulkner bemoaned offside calls in an astonishing rant.

Faulkner said: “At half-time we were 3-0 down but had chances to reduce the arrears. I lost count the amount of times they were caught off side in the first half, ironically it was a Ham Rec club linesman which they changed at half-time.

“He only had the flag up on two or three occasions, we can only speculate on how many goals were actually onside.

“Ham Rec is a tough enough place to come but I did not see anything from them which suggests our proper reserve side would not have been able to deal with.”

Faulkner also criticised the level of commitment and said some who played are not up to the required level.

He added: “We have also seen that some of the players who got the chance to start or step up are clearly not up to the required level, not enough energy or intensity and just lacked positional awareness.

“We have got to take that on the chin, the commitment right across the club is suspect at the moment and that has led us to take this, only five of these players played against Dorchester Sports last time out.

“I have had four lads I have had to call up from the A team and even the A team manager got his boots on for us six years after he last played in the DPL.

“It just is not good enough and this needs to be seriously looked at. The goalkeeper I only managed to sign on Thursday night and has never played outside the Dorset Football League.

“All in all the whole situation leaves a bitter taste in the mouth but we had to play the game to not be hit with a heavy fine or points deductions, unfortunately the league does not have any rules with regards reserve sides in their league.”

Portland: Murphy, Norman, Hankin, A Butcher, Attree, T Butcher, Skelton, Gould, Ryan, Camp, Boatswain.

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