BROCKENHURST 1

PORTLAND UNITED 5

PORTLAND United exacted revenge for a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture by thumping Brockenhurst 5-1 in their Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division contest.

Both sides ended the game with 10 men but Portland had already inflicted a severe wound to the Badgers by the time they enjoyed a one-man advantage.

Brendon King’s side made a blistering start and were 3-0 up inside 17 minutes.

Bailey Rowe linked up with Ed Bastick before threading the needle for Ryan McKechnie, who slid a composed finish underneath goalkeeper Jon Webb in the fifth minute.

Ben Morris doubled the islanders’ lead in the 13th minute, receiving possession from James Cox and cutting inside to beat two defenders and rocket a sweet shot from 25 yards into the top corner.

Portland stunned their hosts with a rapid third, Ed Bastick’s cross forcing Webb to claim under pressure from Eder Batista.

The Brazilian’s challenge produced a drop from Webb straight into McKechnie’s path, the midfielder hooking home for 3-0.

Brockenhurst’s afternoon soured further when captain Will Tickle was dismissed for a lunge on Jamie Symes in the 19th minute.

The Badgers did show fight in adversity when Mitch Speechley-Price sent Steve Boore the wrong way from the spot after Symes handled in the area due to a bobbling ball.

After the break, Speechley-Price was involved in a melee with Shaun Bessant, who had already been booked for a foul. Both players were cautioned, leading to the latter’s red card.

Six minutes after Bessant’s exit, Portland scored a fourth following a slick move on the left.

Alex Halloran played in Ben Morris who worked space with a lovely piece of skill to find Bailey Rowe, the newly-turned 18-year-old firing home from six yards.

The Blues added shine to the scoreline when Bastick picked out Halloran on the right, the midfielder winning a corner.

Sub Alex Godfrey swung in the delivery and Symes saw a header cleared off the line, only for McKechnie to smash into the top corner, completing his hat-trick.

Speaking post-match, King said: “It was a good performance and result on a very heavy pitch.

“The first 20 minutes when we went 3-0 up we were outstanding, they couldn’t live with us.

“We scored three good goals and everything we asked of (the players) before the game, they did.

“Then they had a lad sent off and really, we weren’t so great and got a bit complacent.

“Second half we’ve come out and scored a couple, it’s really pleasing to end up how we did.”

Portland United Reserves lost 3-1 to Dorset Premier League strugglers Wareham Rangers.

Blues: Boore, Bastick, Cox (Godfrey 60), Halloran, Bessant, McKechnie, Batista (Whyton 65), Williams, Symes, Rowe, Morris.

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