Image: Michelle Carr.

Match Report: Dave Ring.

Gillingham Town 2-2 Portland United Reserves
Dorset Premier League – 27th December (3:00pm)
Woodwater Lane.

Portland United Reserves showed real character as they battled to a hard-earned 2–2 draw away at Gillingham Town on Saturday afternoon, in one of only two Dorset Premier League fixtures to survive the post-Christmas lull.

Played at Woodwater Lane on a bright but bitterly cold afternoon in North Dorset, this was never going to be a comfortable outing. Gillingham were well-organised, disciplined, and difficult to break down, but the Blues stood firm and came away with a deserved point.

Portland started the brighter of the two sides and were rewarded after 24 minutes when Sonny Cleeton finished well to put the visitors ahead. The lead, however, didn’t last until the break, with Gillingham pulling level on 40 minutes after sustained pressure.

The hosts came out strongly after half-time and turned the game on its head eight minutes into the second period, taking a 2–1 lead on 53 minutes. At that point, the Blues were up against it, but to their credit they didn’t fold.

Captain Haydn Payne led by example as Portland dug in, and the introduction of fresh legs helped swing the momentum back the Blues’ way. Substitutions saw Billy Hathaway, Josh Hanger, and George Ross-Mackenzie all enter the action as Portland pushed for an equaliser.

That pressure finally told in the 73rd minute when Portland were awarded a penalty. Michael Powell stepped up and kept his nerve, calmly converting from the spot to make it 2–2.

Both sides had half-chances late on, but neither could find a winner, and a draw was a fair reflection of a competitive and evenly contested match.

With many teams opting for a rest so soon after Christmas, Portland United Reserves can be pleased with a solid away performance and a valuable point earned the hard way.

Portland United Reserves: Ennals, Smith, Moles, Taylor, Payne (c), Rodgers, Cleeton, Grace, Hepburn, Powell, Waring

Substitutes: Hathway (for Waring), Hanger (for Hepburn), Ross-Mackenzie (for Rodgers)

Goals:
Portland United: Cleeton (24), Powell pen (73)
Gillingham Town: Grady Crittall (40) & (53)