PORTLAND United manager Kyle Critchell believes the Blues’ 2-1 win at Bournemouth Poppies is “huge” and shows a steely side to their development.

Portland deservedly led when Connor Bent thrashed a volley home in the second half for his maiden Blues goal.

Jake Adams’ contentious penalty, given for the merest of touches on James Stocker by Sam Gadsby, then made it 1-1 with 17 minutes remaining.

And Portland needed every single one of them to register the winner, Gadsby volleying home at the second attempt to exact what some onlookers felt was justice.

READ MORE: Bournemouth Poppies 1-2 Portland United - report

While much of Portland’s play this season has been attractive, free and flowing, here at Victoria Park they ended a three-game losing streak by showing a steelier side.

“Jamie (Symes, assistant) just said we wouldn’t have won that game last year,” Critchell told Echosport.

“Because, maybe we weren’t quite prepared for the physical and mental battle and maybe because of years gone past, those games have been difficult.

“I’d like to think now that (win) shows us in a different light. It’s a massive three points in that regard, it’s huge.”

Bent, meanwhile, was arguably the stand-out performer on the pitch. Aside from his goal, he terrorised the Poppies defence with his pace and combination play, plus intelligent runs into the channel.

Critchell said: “He’s a class act. If he performs the way he did there and continues to take on board and absorb information, and want to learn, he’s one of many in our team that could go on to play at a higher level.

“Hopefully, that’s back at Weymouth. So, thank you again to them for allowing him to come to us. I’ll report back to Craig (Adams, Weymouth Under-23 boss) to make sure he’s aware.

“I’ll do all I can to try and secure him until the end of the season.”

But the final word belonged to Gadsby, who notched his first league goal for the Blues in triumphant circumstances, banishing the demons of what appeared to be a soft penalty concession.

Asked how powerful the winning goal could be for the defender’s confidence, Critchell added: “It was massive, because the striker that came on caused him a lot of trouble.

“There are a lot of teaching points that I’ve just gone over with him.

“But, to respond in a manner as a young man, to go on and win the game, it gets no better. There’s no better feeling and I’m chuffed for him.

“We put our trust in him and Connor. We could go with Besso (Shaun Bessant) and Symesy, but that’s not the model we’ve got.

“We now need to give them a run of games and that will give them all sorts of confidence moving into bigger games ahead.”

Portland, up into seventh after that win, now host Velocity Wessex League Premier Division leaders Shaftesbury on Tuesday (7.45pm).