SHOLING 4

PORTLAND UNITED 0

DEPLETED Portland United slipped to their fourth defeat in six away league games as high-flying Sholing recorded a simple 4-0 Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division victory at Universal Stadium.

The Boatmen scored twice in each half, but Portland had the first good chance of the match when Tom Bearwish guided his effort wide of the far post in the opening exchanges.

Sholing took the lead through Lee Wort’s header when Dan Mason flicked on Alex Sawyer’s corner from the left.

Portland conceded three corners in succession on 40 minutes and, after denying Wort and Mason, the Blues finally succumbed when Sawyer crossed for Dan Miller to nod past Sean Lillington.

The visitors were perhaps unlucky to see a penalty awarded for a push on Mason in the area, but Sawyer was on hand after 60 minutes to place the ball to Lillington’s left for 3-0.

Then, with three minutes left, substitutes Kevin Brewster and Frazer McLean combined, aiming a diagonal ball over Wessex League debutant Che Curran, before the latter found Mason for his 32nd goal of the season.

Speaking to Echosport after the clash, Blues’ interim-coach Chris Wilson could not fault his players’ workrate despite the result.

He said: “In terms of commitment and desire to give a good account of themselves we couldn’t really have asked for more from the lads.

“We were up against a really good Sholing team, we just fell a bit short of quality sometimes when we come up against the top teams.”

Portland now face Fareham Town away tomorrow (7.45pm), with Alex Godfrey and Lewis Clarke (both ankle) rated as “touch and go”, and dual-registered Eastleigh duo Tom Bearwish and Jacob Read unavailable.

But the Blues are hopeful Ross Doidge could return to face the Creeksiders.