PORTLAND UNITED 1

Watts 80

TADLEY CALLEVA 1

Coventry 60

DARREN Watts claimed a point for Portland as the Blues came back from a goal down to level late on at home to Tadley Calleva in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division.

Portland had been looking for a response to their 6-2 loss at home to Bournemouth last week and found it, as they almost clinched all three points late on.

Portland started by defending against the strong wind at the Weyline Stadium.

The Blues did well to limit Tadley to one chance during the first half, which Portland manager Brendon King admitted was really pleasing after their 6-2 loss at home to Bournemouth last week.

Portland were doing well to create good chances, as Jamie Symes forced the Tadley goalkeeper into a fine stop.

Ryan McKechnie had a cutback presented to him which he fired in but saw cleared off the line by the Tadley defence.

Shaun Bessant also brought a good save from the goalkeeper as Portland applied the pressure.

In the second half Portland aimed to do the same again while aiming for more positivity with the ball.

Portland became susceptible to giving the ball away too easily however, and poor decision making hampered their offensive efforts.

Tadley got the breakthrough after 60 minutes when Paul Coventry hit a cross that ended up arrowing its way into the top corner and past Portland goalkeeper Sean Lillington.

However, Portland were able to respond and in the last third of the half took a vast majority of the possession.

The breakthrough did come when a flick from Symes put Watts through who finished well to claim a point.

However, Portland almost won the match when a cross from Alex Godfrey found Watts who headed towards goal but the ball flew the wrong side of the post.

King said: “Overall I am probably a little bit disappointed we did not win the game. In terms of chances created, saves that the keeper has had to make we have created more chances, we missed a couple of good chances as well.

“So in terms of that, we asked for a reaction last week and we got that. Overall we were a lot better, just a little bit disappointed with our decision making in the final third.

“To get something back out of the game I think shows a little bit of character.”

Portland travel to Tadley on Saturday for their clash in the third round of the Sydenhams Wessex League Cup (3pm).

Portland: Lillington, Doidge, Walker, Whyton, Bessant, Stewart, M Buckler, Watts, McKechnie (Bastick 62), Beasley (Godfrey 62), Symes

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