Image: Courtesy Yeovil Town FC

Match Report: Dave Ring

Westland Sports 3 – 0 Portland United Reserves
Dorset Premier League – Saturday 28th September, Alvington Development Centre

Portland United Reserves made the short trip to Yeovil on Saturday afternoon to face a Westland Sports side sitting three places above them in the Dorset Premier League table.

The opening stages saw both sides trading blows in an evenly matched contest, with the young Blues holding their own against experienced opposition. But it was the home side who made the all-important breakthrough on the half-hour mark, capitalising on a loose ball before firing beyond Watts to take a 1–0 lead.

Despite Portland’s best efforts to respond, they trailed by the single goal at the interval.

After the restart, the Blues pushed forward in search of an equaliser, with Clark and Warwick working tirelessly to carve out openings. However, just as momentum appeared to be shifting, Westland Sports struck again to double their advantage, leaving Portland with a mountain to climb.

Any hopes of a late rally were dashed on 75 minutes when the hosts added a third to put the result beyond doubt.

Though the scoreline was harsh on Portland, their young side showed resilience, grit and flashes of quality throughout the ninety minutes. With the squad still in transition, every fixture provides valuable lessons, and the Blues will take plenty from this stern test as they continue their development.

Westland Sports: Wallis, Plumley, Howe, Frampton, Chorley, Foster, John, Bareham, Woollard, Martin, Ormrod.
Substitutes: Ormrod, Thurgood, Hunter.

Portland United Reserves: Watts, Evans, Hanger, Smith (c), Butcher, Davies, Cleaton, Norman, Clark, Warwick, Kilcoyne.
Substitutes: M. Bobora-David, S. Bobora-David, Hepburn, Moles.