PORTLAND TOWN 0

BISTERNE 0

PORTLAND Town were held to a Dorset Senior League stalemate by Bisterne as two well-drilled defences and two combative midfields came out on top.

Both sides had new signings on show from the start, Shivan Roushbaiani showing up well for the visitors while Town themselves had no less than five debutants in the squad with three, James Driver, Jordon Moore and goalkeeper Ben Tyrell all given the nod from the start.

It was Brandon Huckstepp who had the first two efforts on goal, both from distance and never threatening Tyrell’s net while at the other end Will Turland’s instinctive lob missed the target by inches with Dan Saunders out of position in the visiting goal.

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The game was a real battle but the football was neat and tidy through both midfields, despite a consistent flow to the game.

Strapping forward Aza Khider was a having a competitive game up against returning Rob Townley who has missed pre-season with injury. It was an even points match but Khider did get some space on 17 minutes but blasted over from 20 yards.

On 25 minutes, Tom Cherry produced a moment of brilliance when he turned Matheus Almeida inside out on the left, as he pulled the trigger to shoot though the full-back just got a toe to the ball to avert the danger.

Late in the half, a Huckstepp corner hit the bar but as the ball bounced around neither Tony Bellot nor Khider could get a decisive touch and the ball was cleared before half-time.

Bisterne started the second half a little quicker than Town but created little as Portland’s backline stood firm and the midfield three of Steve Lambert, Gary Harvey and Jordon Moore broke up play well as they had for the duration of the first half.

There were no efforts on goal until 72 minutes when Roushbaiani’s free-kick was pawed away by Tyrell as it headed towards the top corner, Hicks then saw Townley get his backside out of the way of a thunderbolt as Bisterne pushed on a gear but could find no way through.

Town were pleased to give Charlie Jones and Ricardo Martins their debuts from the bench with 25 minutes to go while soon after Danny Clifford made a most welcome return after missing pre-season.

Town responded with a double effort of their own, Townley heading inches wide on 75 minutes with the defence stranded on the line from a corner and then Jones whipping an effort wide on the turn.

It was becoming a little stretched as both sides tired and half-chances continued to come, Bellot producing another good stop from Tyrell low to his right as his effort from 12 yards on 88 minutes threatened.

Moments later Khider tried his best to break the deadlock but Tyrell was again too sharp with a good save with his feet on the angle.

In injury-time there was almost a Town hero as Driver flicked down the line, Turland turned the ball infield to Jones and as it looked like his left foot would thrash an effort past Saunders from 18 yards, however he dragged his shot wide and the moment was gone.

The final whistle saw the spoils shared and on the flow of the game both managers were happy with the result.

Town: Tyrell; Driver, M Lambert, Attree, Townley, S Lambert (Clifford), Harvey, Moore, Turland (Martins), Cherry, Christopher (Jones).

Frontline Recruitment man of the match: Mark Lambert.