ALDERHOLT RESERVES 1

PORTLAND UNITED YOUTH PANTHERS 5

PORTLAND United Youth Panthers won the Dorset Minor Cup for the first time with Conor Milne hitting a hat-trick en route to a 5-1 victory over Alderholt Reserves in a thrilling match much closer than the score would suggest.

Portland took the lead after seven minutes when the Alderholt keeper hit a long clearance which fell to veteran islander Stuart Burley, who promptly lobbed the stranded keeper from over 35 yards out.

With both teams fielding a number of young players, the game was played at quite a frenetic pace.

Alderholt soon got themselves back in contention, equalising with a goal from Aaron Hunt.

Milne put the islanders back in front after 23 minutes, but the game was effectively won five minutes before the break.

Firstly, Panthers’ captain, Craig Williams, scored Portland’s third on 41 minutes.

Milne then wrapped up his brace when he added his second five minutes later to leave it 4-1 to Portland going into the break.

The second half remained very competitive with chances falling at both ends.

However, the only goal in the second half was scored on 65 minutes when Milne completed his fine hat-trick nudging in a left-wing cross that had evaded the keeper.

The match ended without further incident as Portland completed the big victory.

After the final whistle the presentation of the Whitehead Minor Cup was made by Nicky Speed, a member of the DCFA Governance Committee, to Williams in the midst of a very heavy April shower.