Match report: Dave Ring
Westland Sports U18 2–3 Portland United U18
Dorset County FA U18 Youth Cup – Round One
Alvington Development Centre – Sunday 9 November
Portland United’s U18s booked their place in the next round of the Dorset County FA Youth Cup with a determined 3–2 victory away at Westland Sports, edging a tight and hard-fought contest that swung throughout the afternoon.
The Blues started brightly, showing confidence on the ball and pressing with purpose. Their early intent paid off when Roy split the Westland defence with a perfectly weighted pass, allowing Moles to race through and calmly slot the opener. It was a composed finish and a reward for Portland’s dominant opening spell.
Westland responded with spirit and began to settle into the game, forcing Portland to defend deeper than they would have liked. A spell of pressure eventually told as the hosts drew level with a well-taken strike, sending the tie into a more frantic end-to-end phase.
Portland steadied themselves and struck back with real quality. Lampard produced a clever piece of play on the right, beating his man before delivering a measured ball into the box. Fisher arrived at the perfect moment, guiding home to restore the Blues’ lead.
The contest, however, was far from done. Westland refused to let the game slip and hit back again, converting from close range to make it 2–2 and set up a tense final stretch. Both sides traded blows, tackles flew in, and the cup tie had all the intensity you’d expect from youth football at its most competitive.
With the match poised and extra time looming, Portland found the moment that mattered. Lampard, already with one assist to his name, broke forward once more and delivered another decisive ball. Ansell met it with conviction, drilling home what proved to be the match-winner and sparking big celebrations from the travelling players and supporters.
The young Blues showed grit, quality, and composure when it counted. Westland pushed them all the way, but the Blues’ clinical edge in the final third made the difference on the day.
A 3–2 victory, a place in Round Two secured, and plenty of positives to take into the next stage of the competition.
