PORTLAND UNITED 0

HOLT UNITED 0

PORTLAND United lost their grip on top spot in the Magna Dorset Premier League after being held to a goalless draw.

The Blues huffed and puffed at Grove Corner but were forced to settle for their second successive draw.

As a result, reigning champions Hamworthy Recreation, who defeated fellow title hopefuls Wincanton Town, have gone top on goal difference and still hold a game in hand over Stuart Heath’s men.

The island boss, whose side had two goals disallowed at the weekend, said: “It was a really hard fought game between two really committed teams.

“Holt are always a determined team and they are tough to play against. They have some good attacking players that can hurt you but I felt we deserved to win and we got stronger as the game went on.

“But we appear to be going through a bad patch and the number of goals we have scored since the turn of the year has not been enough, which has affected our confidence.

“But I can’t fault their determination or fight, we just lacked a bit of quality when we were in good positions, both in open play and from set-pieces.

“A couple of decisions at important times went against us but I was proud of the players for how hard they worked.

“It was tough on them because I felt we deserved the three points. It’s an opportunity lost as it was there for us to win. We just lacked that bit of ruthlessness and quality in the final third.

“If we had got a goal I felt we would have gone on to win the game.”

Discussing the race for the DPL crown, Heath added: “We are still in there fighting but we have lost some ground in the last couple of games because we’ve dropped four points.

“You will always go through a bad patch in a season and this is our turn, but if the players continue to show the same application and determination then they will come through it quickly.”

The Blues take a break from league action tonight as they travel to Bridport’s St Mary’s Field to take on Dorchester Town in the semi-finals of the Dorset Senior Cup.

Blues: Carroll, Grimason, Reader, Carter, Cranny, B Skelton, Toghill, Litherland, Halloran, Linaker (Boatswain 80), Pattison (Mutch 55). Subs not used: Batchelor, Bickerstaff.