AMESBURY TOWN 1

PORTLAND UNITED 3

PORTLAND United bounced back from consecutive defeats in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division with victory over bottom side Amesbury Town on Saturday afternoon.

Brendon King’s young side impressed at Bonnymead Park, scoring three to grab a much-deserved win.

Despite Blues’ higher position in the league table, it was the home side who started strongest and Amesbury had some chances early on.

It was the league’s basement side that got themselves in front in the match, as Billy Connor chipped Ash Green in the Portland goal to take an unexpected lead.

Portland went in 1-0 down at half time after not being good enough on the ball in the first period.

Assistant manager Mark Carter said after the game that he and manager Brendon King “let the players know at half time.”

The coaching team certainly got the response they wanted, with an all-action second half performance that earned the visitors a resounding lead.

The first was a beautifully worked passing move between Alex Halloran, Ryan McKechnie and Ben Morris before Jamie Symes ghosted into the box and scored with a header.

Symes then put Bailey Rowe through, who was brought down to win a penalty. Zak Pickett was sent off for a second yellow following this challenge.

Having won the penalty, the 17-year-old took the spot kick to put the visitors ahead.

The final goal came from another passing move that ended with a headed finish from McKechnie.

After the game, Carter said he was pleased to get back to winning ways after a much-improved second half performance: “I think the last two games we have been a little bit unfortunate to lose because we created enough chances to win but just haven’t been clinical enough.

“In the first half we weren’t really at the races. We just weren’t good enough.

“At the moment with the young side it’s going to be up and down, but Alex Halloran came on in the second half with his experience, got on the ball and got us playing.”

Amesbury Town: Brown, Chambers, Connor, Coombs, Doyle, Francis, McNamara, Page, Pickett, Rutten, Tewkesbury. Subs: Cook, Haylor.

Portland: Green, Bastick, Cox, Bessant, Symes, Morris, Williams, McKechnie, Godfrey (Halloran 55’), Rowe, S. Roche (B. Roche 75’). Sub not used: King.