TINTINHULL 0

Portland UNITED 5

ROSS Doidge netted twice as Portland United increased their lead at the top of the table with a stunning five-goal assault at Tintinhull in the Magna Dorset Premier League.

This clash looked a potential banana skin ahead of kick-off but within 25 minutes the Blues were 3-0 up as they went on to secure an 11th straight victory in all competitions.

Portland boss Stuart Heath said: “It was an excellent performance. Over the last couple of weeks we have been a bit below-par so it was great to see the players get back to somewhere near their best.

“Some of the football we played at times, on what was a tricky pitch, was outstanding and to be honest we perhaps deserved a couple more.

“These types of games can be as uncomfortable as you make them sometimes but we started with the right attitude and tempo from the outset and in the end thoroughly deserved to keep our run going.”

And with title contenders Hamworthy Recreation and Westland Sports having played out a 1-1 draw at Magna Road, the Blues now sit three points clear at the summit, although both their rivals do still hold a game in hand.

Heath, whose side will host Sports next Saturday, added: “I said to the boys beforehand that I felt Hamworthy Recreation would draw with Westland Sports and I was proved right.

“That was why it was so important that we took advantage and we did exactly that.

“To go three up so early on was just fantastic and when your captain turns in a performance like Lewis Whyton did it just spreads through the whole team.

“There is a lot of confidence amongst the squad at the moment and hopefully that can continue for as long as possible.”

Joe Toghill returned for Portland and opened the scoring with a header before Adam Linaker and Doidge stretched the lead even further before the break.

Whyton and Doidge then took the tally to five in the second half with the latter completing his brace with a stunning lob from close to halfway.

Blues: Carroll, Wells (Dailey 75), Reader, Carter (Burton 70), Whyton, Doidge, Halloran, Toghill, Linaker, Chance, Pattison (Batchelor 65).