SHAFTESBURY RESERVES 2

PORTLAND UNITED RESERVES 1

PORTLAND United Reserves came away with nothing to show for their efforts as they lost 2-1 to Shaftesbury Reserves in the Dorset Senior League.

The Blues gave a good account of themselves despite Shaftesbury bolstering their team with no less than five players who have helped Shaftesbury gain promotion from The Sydenham Wessex League Division One this season with 113 appearances between them.

In the early exchanges Josh Camp could have opened the scoring twice when found at the far post by Liam Gould but it was Shaftesbury who went ahead when Matt Camp lost the ball in midfield before the Shaftesbury player unleashed an unstoppable shot in to the net.

Portland rallied and created another good chance as Josh Camp went close with a low drive that just missed the far post.

The Blues started the second half on the front foot and found the equaliser as Camp’s corner was cleared back to him, he fired in a cross which was headed in to the net superbly by Leon Attree.

Portland were unlucky not to have been given a penalty as Camp, who gave the hosts problems all game, was crudely brought down in the area. The referee was uninterested in the away side’s appeals.

The winner came 10 minutes from time as the Blues failed to cut out a cross in to the area from the left which was bundled in to the net.

Speaking after the match, Portland United Reserves boss, Justin Faulkner said: “I’m pleased with how we played today, first half I thought we were superb and all we lacked was the final ball. The goal we conceded in the first half could have been avoided, that was the only disappointment.

“In the second half we did well to get back in to the game, had we got the penalty we might have gone on to get something but I felt we just ran out of steam and their experience showed."

Faulkner added: "All credit goes to my lads who competed well and gave them alot of problems despite some of their players playing 2 leagues higher. It will give us a shot of confidence knowing we can do that, which is strange to say after losing a game. We move on now, we have two games left, both at home and we should be looking to add as many points to our tally as we can between now and the end of the season."

Portland United Reserves: Quinault, Will, Bigg, Anstey, Attree, Hawke, Owens, M. Camp, J. Camp, Moore, Jackson, Milnes.