CHRISTCHURCH 1

Cherrett 20

PORTLAND UNITED 0

A SINGLE Brad Cherrett strike was enough to sink Portland United in a 1-0 defeat at Christchurch in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division.

After the match, Portland assistant-manager Reggie Carter said he feels that the players should have a look at themselves after the performance.

The Blues went behind after 20 minutes after a good ball down the right-hand side was pulled across and Cherrett ghosted in eight yards out unmarked to fire in.

The Blues tried to reply when Sol Roche got on the end of a good cross in from Jamie Beasley and flicked towards goal prompting a great save from the Christchurch goalkeeper.

Ryan McKechnie and Jamie Symes also had good chances from close to the penalty spot but the Blues were unable to pull a goal back before half-time.

After the break, a shot was deflected seemingly heading in for the Blues, but a light touch took it away from goal and out for a corner.

Portland were leaving themselves open however, and Christchurch had further late chances on the break, prompting a clearance off the line from makeshift defender Ed Bastick.

From a break the Priory delivered a great ball in which evaded their own player and away to safety from a dangerous position.

The Blues could not rescue an equalising goal however, and fell to the 1-0 defeat.

Carter said: “I think the players need to have a look at themselves really, a bit of pride in their own performance, if you ask me.

“A bit of self motivation, a bit of self respect, We are not doing the basics right at the moment we are not working hard enough.

“But things are not rolling for us at the moment. Shots, deflections, we are creating things at times.”

Boss Brendon King concurred but pointed to the availability issues the Blues have had.

King said: “We have not had a settled side which we had earlier on in the season, if someone was not available (earlier in the season) we had one available but at the moment we are losing three, four or five players and we have not had the same team for God knows how long and I think you can see that it is affecting it a little bit.”

Portland host Fareham Town on Saturday (3pm).

Portland: Edgar, Bastick, Whyton, S Buckler, C Clarke, Doidge (Richardson 70), M Buckler (L Clarke 70), McKechnie, S Roche, Beasley (E Roche 70), Symes.

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