TEAM SOLENT 4

PORTLAND UNITED 1

PORTLAND United were stung by a four-goal second-half blitz from Team Solent, with Ross Doidge firing in a late consolation goal in injury time in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division.

John Wallace grabbed a brace inside two minutes, while Martin Johnson and Ethan Taylor rounded off the scoring for the home side to claim the big the victory over the Blues.

The two teams were unable to break each other down in the first half as they went into the break at 0-0.

The drama of the match would all be reserved for the second in a very foggy evening in Southampton.

Wallace grabbed his first after 52 minutes, before doubling his tally after 54 to give the Blues a small mountain to climb to take anything from the match.

However, Johnson struck after 70 minutes to put the game beyond doubt, before Taylor’s 79th minute strike.

Substitute Doidge, who came on for Alex Halloran, fired in during injury time to provide some scant consolation for the visitors.

As a result, Portland stay fourth in the table, behind Bournemouth, Horndean and runaway league leaders Sholing.

However, the Blues move level with Horndean should they win their game in hand.

Portland boss Brendon King admitted his side were not at the races, and said that his side got what they deserved.

King said: “We were poor. It wasn’t a great evening, we weren’t at the races and we got what we deserved, if I’m honest with you.

“I have got no qualms about the result, they deserved to win it.

“It is just a little bit disappointing.”

When asked where it went wrong, King replied that he did not know, but bemoaned a lack of fluidity in their play.

King said: “I don’t know, we just weren’t very fluent. Our ball retention was poor, we had some chances but we didn’t take them, we didn’t defend very well.

“The two boxes in question, defending and attacking were both poor. That is the business end of the pitch, we conceded some soft goals.

“It was far too easy for the opposition to score.

“Our final ball in the last third wasn’t good enough, we didn’t have enough quality. We did not have enough quality on the ball.”

Portland travel to Andover New Street on Saturday (3pm).

Team Solent: Londors, Wallace, Bennett, Hartley, Davies, Eaton, Penny, Mitchell, Johnson, Taylor, Hunt. Subs: Demunga, Baldwin, Armstrong, Obeng, Taylor

Portland: Edgar, Bessant, Clarke, Halloran (Doidge 65), S Buckler (Whyton 20), Walker, Bastick (Watts 70), M Buckler, Symes, Godfrey, Beasley. Subs not used: Stewart

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