HAMWORTHY UNITED 1

PORTLAND UNITED 0

A SECOND-HALF goal from former Dorchester star Jamie Gleeson condemned Portland to defeat against rivals Hamworthy United at the County Ground.

A solitary goal in the second period from the midfielder saw the Hammers secure a league double over the Blues and end the away side’s run of three consecutive wins.

Blues’ manager Simon Browne said: “I felt we were very unfortunate to come away with nothing. Ultimately the game is about who scored the most goals and they scored one more than we did, so all our possession counted for very little in the end.”

Portland started brightly with a couple of good chances in the first 10 minutes.

For most of the first half, there was not lot of flowing football being played as the match became more attritional with numerous battles in midfield.

Jamie Beasley caused the home side all sorts of problems down the left-hand side and he nearly gave Portland the lead with a shot from 25 yards that had the keeper beaten but just shaved the post on the stroke of half-time.

Hamworthy took the lead around the hour mark, when a ball was cleared out to the edge of the Blues’ area which Gleeson hit on the volley from about 20 yards out.

“It was a goal worthy of winning a game in terms of the quality of it,” Browne con- ceded.

The Hamworthy defence frustrated Portland’s attacks as they put their bodies on the line, impressing Browne.

The Blues did well in the second half and managed to create a lot of chances but could not find the breakthrough as Hamworthy held on.

Browne said: “We played very well, we gave a very good account of ourselves, on any other day we would be walking away not just with one point but with three points.

“I thought we were the better side.”

He added: “It’s why I’m annoyed that I’m talking about a defeat when a point would be no more than we deserve.”

The result leaves Portland in ninth, five points behind their opponents who sit in eighth.

The Blues are next in action on Saturday against Hamble Club who are sat in 11th on 25 points, one point and two places behind Portland.

Portland: Lillington, Smith, Payne (Zima 85), Butcher, Buckler, Bessant, Bastick (Mitchell 75), McKechnie, Clarke (Bearwish 65), Baker, Beasley

Attendance: 74

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