Portland Town 7-3 Allendale: Tom Cherry hits hat-trick

ALLENDALE 3

PORTLAND Town finished their home Dorset League Division One fixtures with a convincing 7-3 win over Allendale.

Town, who are on course for promotion to the Dorset Senior League, saw Allendale start on the front foot without causing problems, still celebrating from their midweek county cup triumph.

They were made to pay on eight minutes as their nemesis of recent seasons Kev Paice found space in the box after being found by Will Turland.

The big striker made no mistake as he lashed home from 10 yards.

READ MORE: Portland Town smash ten goals in two games

On 15 minutes though the game turned. Allendale flashed a ball wide, Ash Owens was beaten and the ball was fed into Charlie Arnold who chipped keeper Chris Stones with ease.

Town picked themselves up and nicked the lead again on 25 minutes, a defence-splitting ball from George Christopher found Turland inside the full-back and the forward tucked home after pinball in the box.

Town now sensed blood but the next goal was a touch fortuitous, Owens launching a ball into the box and missing everyone to nestle in the back of the net at the back post for 3-1.

Ash Owens scored Portland Town's third Picture: PTFC

Cherry was tormenting Tom Ball on the left flank, but it was from another superb break that Allendale scored their second on 38 minutes.

Cherry split the defence open with a turn of speed, the ball was driven across the box, three or four Town players struck the ball goalwards but it was repelled by some dogged defending and keeping, the ball was cleared desperately and suddenly a two-on-two break led to Allendale firing home through Lewis McMurdo.

Portland were a different animal in the second period, with the front three nearly unplayable. It was a delightful pass from Leon Attree that opened up the Dale on 52 minutes, Cherry drove at Ball again and this time buried his strike into the bottom corner after cutting inside.

Five minutes later and Cherry had his second, Turland broke free from his shackles again and laid off to Rob Townley, the Town skipper fed Cherry and the striker did the rest as he streaked free.

It was 6-2 just after the hour, Turland beating his man with ease on the right, he looked to tee up Cherry but the ball just dropped over his head.

Not standing on ceremony the hungry marksman retrieved the ball and unleashed an arrowing drive into the top corner from a tight angle for his hat-trick.

It was an easier task now for Town and they probed for more with 20 left on the clock, another nice passage of play ending with Owens crossing for Turland, a sumptuous touch left him one-on-one with the keeper and there was only one result as he nestled his second in the corner.

He almost got his hat-trick too but the keeper made a good save with his feet before a late consolation for Allendale as Stones fumbled in front of Arnold and the striker flicked home in the final moments.

Town are now guaranteed to finish third, barring a 20-goal swing in their final game with Milborne Port on Saturday.

Town: Stones; Owens, Allison (Pettitt), Attree (Rogers), M Lambert, S Lambert, Christopher (Sonner), Townley (Harvey), Cherry, Paice, Turland.

Dorset Cleaning Services man of the match: Tom Cherry