PORTLAND TOWN 3

WOOL UNITED 2

PORTLAND Town progressed to the semi-finals of the Dorset Intermediate Cup with a narrow 3-2 victory over fellow Dorset League Division One side Wool United.

Town struggled to find their rhythm in the early exchanges but on nine minutes took the lead when Greg Borthwick’s pull back found Colin Upfold who slotted the ball beyond the away keeper.

A minute later, Town doubled their lead when Ross Pettitt’s whipped cross was diverted into his own net by a Wool defender with Upfold set to pounce for his second.

Wool did pull a goal back for 2-1 but Town ended the half stronger as Borthwick coolly converted a penalty for his third goal in as many games.

Wool threw caution to the wind in the second half and were rewarded with a glimmer of hope on 75 minutes when home stopper Pete Cowne was beaten with a low drive following a long ball over the top.

Portland passed up some good opportunities in the last 15 minutes and could not add to their tally but saw the game out.

Town manager Justin Faulkner said: “I think we made hard work of that game and in the end it was closer than it should have been.

“We didn’t get out of second gear. I’ve only been with this group a short while but I know we are capable of better than what we showed.

“Having said that we have scored another three when we have not been at our best and in the main we have defended well.

“The goals we have conceded have come from us being sloppy in possession of the ball and not reacting quick enough. At the end of the day we’re in the next round, that is the important thing.”

Faulkner added: “It’s always nice to have a good cup run and have something like a semi-final to look forward to. Now we have to focus on our league form which does not make for great reading this season.

“Since I have been here we’ve only played three games, two of them have been in the cup, so we do have games in hand but we need to start putting points on the board and getting ourselves upwardly mobile.”

Town: Cowne, Paul, Pettitt, Paice, Higgins, Townley, Upfold, Parsons, Borthwick, R Zima, Jones. Subs: Hearn, MacConnachie, Tennant. Sub not used: Dean Richards.

Match sponsor: Osprey Leisure Centre