Portland UNITED RESERVES 1

WITCHAMPTON UNITED 2

PORTLAND United’s hopes of lifting the Dorset Senior League title suffered a major dent at Grove Corner at the hands of the Witches.

In the absence of experienced full-back Dan Skelton, the Blues welcomed back Gareth Morgan for his first start of the season but with James Turrell and Tom Bell still unavailable, and Liam Greatrex and Carl Mutch both on first-team duty, they were unable to name a full complement of substitutes.

In a game of few chances, the final outcome was ultimately decided by defensive errors.

Steve Churchill broke from midfield in the opening minutes for Portland but failed to trouble the keeper before a long punt forward was met with indecision by the home back-line, enabling Liam Cullen to stab in the opener past a flat-footed Ian Bickerstaff.

The Blues immediately rallied and drew level on 20 minutes through Simon Crouch.

Churchill gathered a loose ball in midfield and fed Ross Boatswain and when his shot was only parried, there was Crouch to drill in the rebound and that is the way it stayed until the break.

The second half lacked notable highlights with both sides cancelling each other out but a winner did eventually arrive with 10 minutes remaining when Andy Paterson’s towering header from a free-kick flew into an unguarded net with Bickerstaff stranded.

The Witches now sit third, just two points adrift of Portland, who trail leaders Wareham Rangers by four.

Witchampton hold two games in hand on the table-toppers while the Blues have one.

Blues: Bickerstaff, Morgan (Parsons 80), Burton, Doidge, Newnham, Churchill, Camp, Charles, Rogers, Boatswain, Crouch (Preston 70).