Image: Michelle Carr
Match Report: dave Ring
Portland United 1–2 Westbury United
Southern Football League Division One South
Tuesday 11th August 2026 – 7:45pm
Camp & Satherley Stadium
Attendance: 277
Portland United’s historic first-ever Southern League fixture ended in a narrow 2–1 defeat to Westbury United at the Camp & Satherley Stadium, but the Blues showed plenty of character on a landmark night for the club.
After last season’s promotion to Step 4, Portland finally took their place in the Southern Football League Division One South, with 277 supporters turning out to witness the latest chapter in the club’s remarkable rise.
Westbury made the perfect start, taking the lead after just five minutes.
Portland responded positively and began to settle into the contest. Good work from George Stuttle earned the Blues their first corner on three minutes, while another dangerous delivery from Pat Jenkins seven minutes later saw Greg Borthwick attack the ball and force Westbury to concede another corner.
The Blues began to grow into the game and, on 20 minutes, produced their first real sight of goal. Stuttle was again involved, delivering into the box where Borthwick knocked the ball into the path of captain Josh Williams. Turning inside the area, Williams couldn’t quite keep his effort on target.
Portland were now asking questions of the visitors and came desperately close to an equaliser on 33 minutes when Jenkins unleashed a powerful effort from distance that rattled the crossbar.
Seven minutes later, the woodwork was involved again.
Borthwick got in behind after a long ball was sent forward and the Blues number nine did superbly to hold the ball up before creating an opening. His eventual effort took a deflection and bounced back off the upright.
Portland continued to threaten and, on 44 minutes, Woolford tried to catch the Westbury goalkeeper out from a free kick, aiming for the near post. His effort beat the goalkeeper but rippled the side netting.
Despite creating opportunities and hitting the woodwork twice, the Blues went into the interval trailing 1–0.
Borthwick was replaced by Remus Nixon at the start of the second half, but Portland’s task became considerably harder just three minutes after the restart.
On 48 minutes, Westbury were awarded a penalty and converted from the spot to double their advantage.
Two goals down, Portland needed a response, and they got one almost immediately.
Just three minutes later, Jacob Coombs pulled a goal back for the Blues, reducing the deficit to 2–1 and giving Portland renewed hope.
The goal breathed fresh life into the home side, who continued to push for an equaliser and refused to let the setback of conceding a second goal end their challenge.
As the game entered its closing stages, the Blues continued to search for the goal that would bring them level.
Four minutes of additional time were announced, giving Portland one final opportunity to rescue a point from their historic opening fixture.
The Blues kept pushing, but the equaliser would not come and the final whistle confirmed a 2–1 defeat.
It was a frustrating result given the effort and chances Portland had produced, particularly in a first half where Jenkins struck the crossbar and Borthwick saw a deflected effort come back off the post.
But there were positives to take.
Portland had found themselves two goals behind early in the second half and immediately responded through Coombs. The Blues continued to compete right to the final whistle and showed the resilience that will be needed as they adapt to life at Step 4.
For Coombs, there was further recognition after the final whistle as he was named Portland United’s Man of the Match, capping an impressive individual performance with the goal that gave the Blues hope.
Ultimately, though, Westbury held on to claim the points.
The result may not have provided the fairytale ending to Portland’s first Southern League evening, but the significance of the occasion should not be underestimated.
This was Portland United’s first-ever Southern Football League Division One South fixture, another remarkable milestone in the club’s journey through the football pyramid.
The Blues may have started their Southern League adventure with defeat, but there was enough on display to suggest Portland will be more than capable of competing at their new level.
The journey has begun.
And there is plenty more to come.
Portland United 1–2 Westbury United
Portland United: Jacob Coombs 51′
Westbury United: 5′, 48′ penalty
Man of the Match: Jacob Coombs
Attendance: 277
Match sponsors: Pat Kempson & Robin Satherley
