PORTLAND UNITED RESERVES 1

BRIDPORT RESERVES 0

PORTLAND United Reserves have got their season 'up and running' according to manager Justin Faulkner after their narrow 1-0 win against Bridport at the Weyline Stadium.

The only goal of the game came on 37 minutes as Ross Boatswain's controlled shot found the back of the net beyond Bridport keeper Billy Fleet. 

Faulkner said: "Before the game we talked in the changing room about being strong at the Weyline, our home form will be very important being a new team in this league. 

"I asked the players to forget Saturday and start our season tonight, and they responded.  We've seen some glimpses of the type of football we want to play but they were too few and far between for my liking. 

"But we defended superbly, we looked like we really wanted it and dug in, we had something to hold on to!"

Faulkner added: "The most important thing was to get some points on the board, the longer it goes you tend to question certain things but we've got that monkey off our back. 

"We know we let ourselves down against Westlands and we wanted a response which we got, the table looks a lot healthier now."

Blues: Jones, Will (T Butcher 80), Hankin, S Buckler, Anstey, Tennant (Thompson 60), J Camp, Boatswain (Gould 60), Wall, S Zima, R Zima Subs not used: Roche, Attree.

Faulkner's men travel to Swanage Town & Herston in the Dorset Premier League tomorrow (3pm).

Looking ahead to the game, Faulkner said: "We are slowly improving, we won all of our pre season games but that doesn't fully prepare you for the competitive nature of the DPL plus we are still integrating some late additions to the squad. 

"The win on Wednesday was just what we needed but now we have to kick on, but make no mistake Swanage is a really tough test for us."

Faulkner added: "Swanage have been on the crest of a wave in the last few seasons and have been looking for promotion and although they have't had the start everyone expected they still have some very good players and will be a threat to us. 

"We've got the shot in the arm we needed, that only comes from winning games.  We go down there as the underdogs and if we can improve again I'm sure we could take something from the game."