PORTLAND UNITED 6

BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY 1

BLISTERING Portland United continued their breathtaking run of form with a resounding 6-1 win over Blackfield & Langley at the Camp & Satherley Stadium.

The Blues are steadily building up a ridiculous portfolio of statistics, the headliner being 15 games unbeaten at home.

Portland have won their last six games, scoring 28 goals in the process, and striker Greg Borthwick now has 14 goals in nine matches having netted in each.

Crucially for the islanders, they have risen to ninth in the Velocity Wessex League Premier Division and boast at least two games in hand on the teams directly above them.

READ MORE: Portland United to 'monitor' potential interest in Greg Borthwick

It means their target of finishing in the top half may soon be readjusted during what is quickly becoming their best season for seven years.

Once more, Portland were electric and displayed the cohesion, near telepathy and pace of play more befitting a team playing at a higher level.

They effectively killed the game in the first half, going 4-0 up.

Portland were ahead inside a minute as new recruit Joe Wickham slid home a good finish after exchanging passes with Ryan McKechnie.

Wickham now averages a goal every 50 minutes since joining Portland but Borthwick, their next scorer, is currently on his own streak of good form.

It followed a similar pattern to his goal against Romsey, beating the offside trap and clinically placing beyond ex-Blues keeper Mike Edgar for 2-0.

Shaun Bessant went close to a 40-yard special but McKechnie instead grabbed Portland’s third on 32 minutes with a fierce effort from the edge of the box.

Edgar did his best to try and prevent 4-0 but his parry from a Josh Williams attempt was pounced on by Ben Morris in the 40th minute.

After the break, Portland continued to take the game to Blackfield and were rewarded with a fifth goal midway through the half.

It came from sub Luke Sheehy, who bagged his fourth goal of the season with another example of anticipation from a Portland player, reacting quickest to Edgar’s parry for 5-0.

Portland saved the best until last when a patient and technical team move yielded a chance for young sub Archie Woolford and the winger buried a lovely shot into the top corner.

At 6-0, with ten minutes to go, Blackfield deserved credit for gaining a consolation and depriving Portland of a clean sheet.

They did it in some style as Harry Edmondson beat Harrison Bruton with a beautiful solo run to complete the scoring in a memorable game.

Speaking to Echosport, Blues’ boss Kyle Critchell said: “We’re just riding the crest of a wave at the moment.

“We’re playing really positive football, being professional at the right times.

“We started off a little shaky but after those first ten minutes we started to impose our game plan on them and ultimately they just couldn’t deal with our interplay and attacking phases of play.

“I’m just overjoyed with scoring six goals but the downside is we did concede that goal in the second half.

“That’s my nature, I always try and maintain high standards. For the most part, the performance was fantastic and it was even more pleasing to see the four substitutes come on and make an impact too.

“We’ve worked really hard. When we walked through the door we had our own ideas and philosophies.

“We’ve had to alter those as we’ve had new players and kept players. We’ve got an identity as a club and that’s the most pleasing thing for me.

“When 16 lads come into the squad, they know their roles defensively. Now we’re starting to turn it on when we go forward.”

Portland face one of their biggest tests of the season in a Dorset derby on Tuesday when Sherborne Town visit in league action (7.45pm).

Blues: Bruton, Harvey, Stuttle, Williams (Scott 60), Bessant (Gadsby 60), Callow, Wickham, McKechnie, Borthwick (Sheehy 60), Delves, Morris (Woolford 60). Sub not used: J Lucas.

Attendance: 190.

Match sponsor: Excelsior Coaches.

Match-of-the-match sponsor: Barry Thompson.

Match ball sponsor: Excelsior Coaches.

Programme sponsor: Café Oasis.

Mascots: Jack & Alice (sponsored by Advoco).