Match Report: Dave Ring.
Portland United FC U18s 3–3 Swanage Town & Herston U18s
Camp & Satherley Stadium, Portland – Sunday 7th September, 2:00pm Kick-off
In a thrilling and turbulent encounter at the Camp & Satherley Stadium, Portland United FC Under 18s fought back twice to secure a hard-earned 3–3 draw against Swanage Town & Herston Under 18s.
The match started with the young Swans taking the initiative, and they broke the deadlock in the 20th minute with a well-worked goal that gave them the lead. The Blues battled back and were rewarded in the 34th minute when Sonny Cleaton unleashed a brilliant strike to equalise, bringing the scores to 1–1 at half-time.
Portland made a triple substitution during the break, aiming to add energy and fresh legs for the second half. Both teams pressed for dominance after the restart, and it was Swanage who regained the lead. The Blues, however, refused to be subdued, and Preston Hepburn struck to level the match at 2–2. The Swans struck once more to go 3–2 up, but Portland again showed resilience to draw level at 3–3 with a superb strike from Jack Ansell late on, a scoreline that ultimately reflected the competitive nature of the contest.
The game was overshadowed by extreme disciplinary issues, with a total of 16 yellow cards shown by the referee – three for Portland and 13 for Swanage. The situation escalated as three Swans players were sent off during the match. After the final whistle, tensions continued, with two additional Swan team officials dismissed, leaving visiting supporters expressing their frustration at the officiating. The referee appeared to have lost control of the game, making the match as memorable for the chaos off the ball as the goals on it.
Despite the disruption, Portland United Under 18s demonstrated grit and determination, twice coming from behind to earn a point. The Blues will look to carry that resilience into their next fixture, learning from both the highs and the lessons of a very challenging encounter.
Portland United U18s Line-Up
Sam Gregg (GK), Elson Ellis, Matt James, Jude Wash, Archie Lampard, Anthony Smith, Sonny Cleeton, Harvey Davies (C), Corey Roy, Adam Rodgers, Preston Hepburn.
Substitutes: Cameron Squibb, Ellis Moles, Haydon Burrows, Jack Ansell, Sebastian Bobora-David.
