LYMINGTON TOWN 0

PORTLAND UNITED 6

PORTLAND United recorded their biggest league win for more than four years, thrashing bottom side Lymington Town 6-0 away.

Matching or beating the extraordinary 12-2 win over Amesbury Town in October 2019 was always improbable but the victory helped take the Blues up one place to sixth.

One point behind Brockenhurst with three games in hand, Portland are now in pole position to assume command of the final play-off spot in the Velocity Wessex League Premier Division.

Having drawn 2-2 against Lymington back in August, the onus was on Portland to avoid a similar slip-up and Kyle Critchell’s men were well on course after only nine minutes.

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Lymington failed to deal with a long throw and Connor Callow was there to head home past home goalkeeper Chris Raven for 1-0.

Lymo threatened an equaliser two minutes later when Harry Yates’ header forced Harrison Bruton into an easy save.

But Portland doubled their lead in the 20th minute, again resulting from a long throw, as a poor Lymington clearance fell for Aidan Shepherd to sweep home past Raven.

Jacob Coombs made it 3-0 in the 38th minute with a well-taken finish but spirited Lymington never gave in and were unlucky not to grab a goal after Otis Kinyanjui’s enterprising run and shot.

However, Portland completed a dream first half when Coombs bagged his second goal from a free-kick.

In the second half, Portland came under more pressure from the hosts as Yates fired wide and Bruton was called upon to punch clear Richard Bakery’s cross.

Bakery followed up with Lymo’s best chance of the match, blasting at Bruton who pushed clear the effort to preserve Portland’s clean sheet.

But Portland ended the match as they began, recording two more goals to put the cherry on top of their performance.

The fifth came in fortuitous circumstances from an own goal before sub Jamie Symes netted a late sixth, with Lymington cries of handball falling on deaf ears.

Speaking after Portland’s highest goal tally away from home since a 7-3 win over Fareham in 2021, Critchell told Echosport: “It was a more ruthless and dominant performance by us.

“That was set up by a really fast start with attacking intent and we just played to the game plan that we produced.

“The start really dictated the rest of the performance. There were some really good performances out there and scoring six goals helps our confidence.

“We had to adapt to the conditions because it was a very bobbly pitch, but the way we set up our traps and pressed the ball really impressed me.

“As long as we have that intent going forwards, we’re going to give most teams a difficult day. So, a positive performance but we’re not going to get too high or low.”

Portland host Hamble Club on Saturday (3pm).

Blues: Bruton, Bessant, Stuttle, Williams, Callow, Gadsby, Wickham, Coombs, Shepherd, Doyle, Bent. Subs: Harvey, Symes, Scott, Morris, J Lucas.

Attendance: 85.