LYMINGTON TOWN 4

Jarvis 13, House 47, Gosney 50, 63

PORTLAND UNITED 2

Godfrey 1, Beasley 75

PORTLAND United suffered a frustrating and comprehensive 4-2 defeat to Lymington Town in the FA Vase first round qualifying.

Alex Godfrey opened the scoring in the first minute and Jamie Beasley scored late on but the Blues could not stop goals from Ashley Jarvis, Sam House and a quickfire brace from Dan Gosney sealing the loss.

Portland got off to a flying start in the match as Chris Clarke

put a ball in the box, Ed Bastick headed the ball down for Godfrey to take a touch before firing in.

The Blues were then on top but when Lymington got into the Portland box for the first time a shirt pull from Steven Walker gave away a harsh penalty, which Jarvis struck past Jordan Tewkesbury to level the scores in the 13th minute.

To make matters worse, Ross Doidge suffered a hamstring injury in the 22nd minute and had to be substituted.

In the last action of the first half, Tewkesbury took a goal-kick from which the Linnets gained possession, the Blues failed to clear and House was able to run through and fire in for the home side.

Portland started the second period slowly, which allowed Gosney to get his first goal when Max Buckler lost the ball in midfield.

Lymington proceeded to break away which led to a cross from which Gosney tapped in from six yards.

A ball played over the top saw Ash Smith fail to clear and Gosney was able to get in through on goal and fire past Tewkesbury.

The Blues introduced Alex Halloran and Darren Watts in place of Godfrey and Bastick as they looked to engineer a route back into the match via a double substitution.

Portland got a goal back in the 75th minute when Beasley took a great touch inside the Lymington box before firing in.

The visitors had two late penalty appeals turned down, when Jamie Symes was bundled over in the box and a claim for handball.

A headed effort was also cleared off the line for the Blues as Portland endured a frustrating end to the match as they could not rescue a result.

Portland manager Brendon King said: “It was not the greatest day at the office.

“Unfortunately we were not great, we have been better.”

Referring to their late claim for handball King said: “No one really knew why it was not given, including their (Lymington Town) bench.”

Portland are next in action when they face a trip to Cowes Sports in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division on Saturday (3pm).

Portland: Tewkesbury, Doidge (Smith 22), Clarke, Bessant, Walker, M Buckler, McKechnie, Godfrey (Halloran 65), Beasley, Bastick (Watts 65), Symes. Subs not used: Butcher