AFC PORTCHESTER 0

PORTLAND UNITED 2

PORTLAND showed real character to secure a hard-fought 2-0 victory after a tough encounter with AFC Portchester in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division.

The Blues perhaps had the better of the play and this was shown when Portland were awarded a penalty after Jamie Beasley was brought down in the area.

Ryan McKechnie stepped up to hit the spot-kick but the keeper pulled off an excellent double save to deny the island man and then Beasley who followed up with a fierce effort.

Bailey’s men made the breakthrough just three minutes into the second half after Ed Bastick broke down the wing, before his cross found McKechnie who met it with a header which went into the bottom corner from six yards out.

Portchester’s keeper made a number of excellent saves in the second half, first denying a McKechnie header, before pulling off a stunning stop for Beasley’s effort.

The hosts’ keeper was arguably man of the match until the closing stages when he misjudged a headed clearance which fell to McKechnie who lofted the ball over him to double the lead and all but secure the points for his side.

Visiting keeper Sean Lillington also contributed with a number of saves of

his own, and Portland manager Gary Bailey was pleased with the way his side battled to victory.

He said: “It was a really decent away game, it was a proper hard-earned victory and I’m delighted with the clean sheet.

“We got our goals at good times and we thoroughly deserved the three points in the end, it was a really solid performance.

“There’s some really tired legs in the dressing room, because they threw everything at it.

“This victory proves that we don’t just win the easy games. We have steely determination to get us over the line.

“In the next nine games we’ll have this type of game again and it’ll be no easy task.

“No-one gives you the points in this league, you have to roll your sleeves up and earn them and it’s great to see that we can play great football when we get the opportunity but we can do the horrible side of it as well and you need to have both aspects in your game if you are to succeed.”

Blues: Lillington, Doidge, Whyton, Carmichael, Bessant, Halloran (Godfrey 60), Buckler, Watts (Smith 65), Beasley, Bastick, McKechnie.

Subs not used: Camp