PORTLAND UNITED 1

ANDOVER TOWN 0

TOM Bearwish’s first competitive goal for Portland United helped the Blues win their first league game in five games after they secured a 1-0 success over Andover Town at Grove Corner.

The 16-year-old dual-registered with Eastleigh came off the bench to head home Jamie Beasley’s corner in the 70th minute.

The Blues defended stoutly to secure the three points with their first clean sheet since mid August.

The game started at a frantic pace with the visitors looking direct, trying to set their strikers in behind Lewis Whyton and Ross Carmichael, but the central defenders were able to deal with the long balls.

At the other end, Ed Bastick posed a threat to Andover’s Louis Rackentley. In one pacey run, he nutmegged the left-back, but his low cross couldn’t find a Portland player.

The Blues started to exert their dominance at the Grove. In the 12th minute Jamie Beasley got in behind but his fierce shot could only find the inside of the post.

Moments later, Ashley Smith produced a wonderful cross that Connor Nuiteley had to head over his own bar.

Smith was back at it three minutes later. This time he found Beasley with the outside of his foot, but the winger’s shot with his weaker right foot was tame and easily gathered by Jamie Bray in the visiting goal.

Portland have been not at their usual ruthless cutting edge at the start of this season, and after missing two chances, they nearly fell behind as Sean Lillington had to make a good save after Grange had stolen in behind Smith.

Grange caused Smith some real problems. Soon after his chance, he put the right back on his backside only to produce a cross that lacked quality.

Beasley and Bastick switched wings as Portland – now feeling frustrated – looked for inspiration. Alex Godfrey, who had been anonymous for much of the opening half hour, played in Beasley with a silky pass, but the winger was unable to trouble Bray with a right-footed shot.

Two more chances fell to Beasley as half-time approached. He headed over while offside and the winger, now back on the left, drove a low cross across the box that none of his team-mates could reach.

But, it was the away side that had the best chance of the half. Carlo Santobaa found space from 30 yards from goal and, after spotting Lillington off his line, produced a deft chip that had the keeper beaten, but not the bar. On the rebound, Lillington flew across his line to prevent Aaron Nesbeth from scoring.

The visitors finished the half stronger as Grange forced a save from the Blues’ keeper and it was Andover who kept up the pressure in the second period however, they weren’t unable to create anything clear cut. Portland grew into the half, Beasley again broke forward on the left wing picking out Tom Richardson, but the centre-forward could not control the ball on the slide.

It was then Andover’s turn to rue a missed opportunity on the hour mark. Grange found space to shoot inside the box but his right-footed shot was dragged wide. Moments later the winger tried his luck from range only to see Lillington in the way.

The game started to open up, Darren Watts saw his shot cleared off the line as Bearwish came on to the pitch.

He made an almost instant impact.

He found space inside the box from a Beasley corner and headed home to break the deadlock for the hosts with 20 minutes to go.

With the goal advantage, the Blues looked to consolidate their position and play safe. Whyton, who has been missing in recent weeks through injury, marshalled the backline well, showing why his presence has been missed in their last few games.

At the other end, a wonderful cross from Smith found Beasley with a pinpoint delivery. The header from the winger was looping and it took a strong right hand from Bray to tip it away from goal.

From the rebound, Bray was on hand to parry away Bastick’s volley. Had the hosts taken any of those chances, they would have sealed the game.

However, it didn’t matter as Portland’s defence withstood some last-minute pressure to seal the three points.

Blues: Lillington, Smith, Clarke, Carmichael, Whyton, Watts, Buckler, Godfrey, Richardson (Bearwish 65), Bastick (Morris 86), Beasley

Subs not used: Mutch, Doidge

Andover: Bray, Nuiteley, Rackentley, Santeane, Gilbert, Dempsey, Santobaa (Chunga 81), Gunson, Plummer (Nesbeth 33), Grange, Lock

Subs not used: none

Referee: Samuel Williams

Bookings: Blues – Bastick, Beasley

Andover – Nuiteley

Attendance: 145