TADLEY CALLEVA 2

Denham 24, Hallahan 60

PORTLAND UNITED 2

Beasley 42, Symes 90+6 pen

PORTLAND United were given a stern examination by Tadley Calleva but emerged with a 2-2 draw thanks to Jamie Symes’ 96th-minute spot-kick in their Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division clash at Barlows Park.

The Blues picked up only their third league draw of the season but did lose ground on leaders Sholing, who now sit 10 points above Brendon King’s men in second.

And in Portland’s third meeting with Tadley this season in league and cup, the islanders came away with their third draw in a contest they did not deserve to lose.

Portland began the first half in commanding fashion but went behind against the run of play when Brett Denham headed past debutant goalkeeper Mike Edgar.

The Blues’ first equaliser was a goal of real quality as a raking 60-yard ball from Darren Watts picked out Jamie Beasley, allowing the winger to cut inside the full-back, round the keeper and finish for 1-1 at half-time.

Tadley improved after the break and again took the lead on the hour when George Hallahan ghosted into the box unmarked to slot home a pass from the byline.

Portland staged a concerted late attack on Calleva and were rewarded in the final seconds when Symes was pushed in the back inside the box before keeping his composure to secure a point for the visitors.

Speaking to Echosport, manager King felt a draw was a fair result based on his side’s display.

He said: “It was nothing more than what we deserved, we certainly didn’t deserve to lose it.

“Did we do enough to win it? I’m not quite sure, but we certainly deserved the equaliser and a nice, cool and calm, collected penalty from Symesy.

“First half I thought we were by far the better side, we went 1-0 down against the run of play.

“We got back into it just before half-time and went in 1-1.

“We came out second half really slowly, the first 15-20 minutes we were poor and they went 2-1 up.

“Then, eventually, we chucked the kitchen sink at them and got our just rewards in the end.”

Portland, who had a couple of penalty shouts, were finally given a decision and King felt Symes kept his calm well after a “time delay”.

He said: “We were due to get one of them, it was no more than we deserved.

“There was a little bit of a time delay on it because they had someone down injured. There was a bit of pressure on Symesy and fair play to him, he tucked it away nicely.”

Blues: Edgar, Doidge, Whyton, S Buckler, McKechnie, Stewart, M Buckler (Mitchell 75), Halloran (C Clarke 55), Watts, Beasley, Symes. Subs not used: Butcher, Lillington

Attendance: 69

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