PORTLAND UNITED FC
“The Blues”
SATURDAY 1st MARCH 2008
DORSET PREMIER LEAGUE
BLANDFORD UNITED 0 PORTLAND UNITED 1IT was a case of after the "Lord Mayor's Show" at Blandford on Saturday according to Portland United's assistant-manager Brendan King, who was relieved to see his side come home with all three Dorset Premier League points.
The Blues travelled to the Recreation Ground in confident mood after last Tuesday's victory over Wessex League side Poole Town in the Dorset Senior Cup but their performance failed to reach such highs as they did at the Jewson Stadium and the Royals were perhaps unfortunate not to get something.
King said: "They made it very difficult for us and were unlucky not to go ahead."They made a couple of good chances in the early stages and we just could not seem to get going."Saying that when we strung three passes together for the first time in the game we took the lead through a great strike from John Litherland after 15 minutes and that was how it stayed until half- time."We huffed and puffed in the first half without really getting anywhere but in the second, after a bit of a chat at half-time, we were a bit better."We kept the ball better and looked a bit sharper although without really creating any chances. We made a couple of half chances but that was it."I think the win over Poole on Tuesday took a lot out of the boys even though they had a few days' rest afterwards."They know they did not turn up today but we ground out a result which is what all good teams do when they don't play well. We kept a clean sheet and now we will just move on and look forward to next week."
Blandford started well and were unfortunate not to get their noses in front when a fine effort beat visiting keeper Warren Boyt only to rebound off the crossbar.
That was a clear warning sign to the Dorset Premier league leaders and around ten minutes later they responded when a good passing move saw Alex Halloran find Litherland who drove the ball into the corner of the net from 20 yards.
The Royals fought hard to get back into the game throughout but Portland's defence remained solid.
Substitute Matt White then went close to doubling the Blues' advantage after the break when his shot was denied by an excellent save.
Blues: Boyt, P Lambert, Cranny, Clarke, Walker, Lamb, Litherland, Halloran (Carmichael 60), Doidge (Aplin 65), Whyton, Linaker (White 60).