HORNDEAN 3

Liss, Scott, Peel

PORTLAND UNITED 1

Rowe pen

DEPLETED 10-man Portland United went down 3-1 at Horndean in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division – but not without a fight.

Due to injuries and suspensions, the Blues were misshapen all over the pitch with the likes of midfielders Max Buckler and Ryan McKechnie filling in at centre-half and right-back respectively.

Youngster Josh Williams also played the full 90 minutes despite requiring antibiotics to battle a chest infection, while Lewis Whyton came out of retirement to play from the bench.

Given their troubles, that the Blues competed strongly with the Deans was evidence of an outstanding display.

Portland fought until the 34th minute when a mistake by McKechnie allowed Alfie Liss in to slot past goalkeeper Steve Boore.

Portland’s ability to keep the ball frustrated Horndean into the second half but the Blues could not make a serious chance from their monopoly of possession, with Bailey Rowe and Jamie Beasley seeing shots charged down.

The Blues were then struck on the counter as Horndean galloped upfield and looked destined to score but for a blatant handball in the area by Ed Bastick, who was shown a straight red card.

Horndean’s Bobby Scott stepped up to beat Boore from the spot to double the hosts’ advantage.

Portland won a penalty of their own for handball, although Horndean’s infringement did not prevent a certain goal.

Nevertheless, teenager Bailey Rowe converted the spot-kick to continue his rich scoring form this season.

Boss Brendon King urged his 10 men to flood forward in search of an equaliser but were again exposed on the counter as a deflected Harry Jackson pass fell kindly for sub Greg Peel to score.

Speaking to Echosport, King had high praise for his dogged troops.

He said: “The lads were brilliant. The amount of players we had missing, playing out of position, players being ill – they put a massive shift in for us and were a little bit unlucky.

“Everything I’ve asked of them, they’ve done. I take my hat off to them. We were very depleted and it was important we managed to get two sides out for us and the reserves, which we managed to do.

“In that respect, we lost the game but there were some good positives to take from it.”

Blues: Boore, McKechnie (Whyton 78), Bastick, M Buckler, Cox, Williams, Godfrey, Halloran, S Roche (E Roche 70), Beasley (Hutchinson 65), Rowe.

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