PORTLAND UNITED 2

BOURNEMOUTH POPPIES 2

DÉJÀ VU haunted Portland United as Conor Jevon’s 95th-minute leveller for Bournemouth Poppies robbed the Blues of all three points at the Camp & Satherley Stadium.

Last week Portland drew 2-2 having been 2-0 up at Cowes Sports, conceding an equaliser in the 95th minute.

And there was painful symmetry for the Blues as an identical narrative cost them two points in their latest Wessex League Premier Division clash.

Matty Burrows was on song in the first half for Portland, first teeing up Troy Walbridge and then Oli Lowes as the duo went close.

Walbridge returned the favour for Burrows in the 33rd minute, although the winger shot inches wide.

READ MORE: Cowes Sports 2-2 Portland United - match report

Portland bagged the goal they deserved five minutes before the break, though, as Walbridge hit the bar with a header, Sam Poole reacting quickest to score.

After the break, Walbridge again struck with the bar with a header before going off injured, Lance Wilson coming on.

Portland continued to have the better of play and they were rewarded when Ryan McKechnie netted his ninth goal of the season with an unstoppable shot.

Poppies got back into it when a pacy cross was diverted past Mike Edgar by Poole for an own goal.

Portland exploited gaps as Poppies chased a late equaliser and sub Greg Borthwick charged through one-on-one only to chip his effort wide in the 89th minute.

It proved a costly miss as Jevon, formerly of Weymouth and Dorchester, rifled through a crowd of bodies in the box – and men on the line – to snatch a dramatic point.

Speaking to Echosport, Blues’ boss Franklyn Clarke said of the late goal: “It was exactly the same situation. A corner kick, last minute.

“We’ve won the first header and it fell to (Jevon). He’s just volleyed it, went through four legs and went in.

“Bit gutted but overall the performance level was fantastic, like it has been the last six weeks.

“We’re getting there. We’re a bit of a nearly team at the moment but I’m really proud of the lads.

“We should’ve won, we had enough chances, it’s just unfortunate. It’s still positive, we’re learning.

“We are a young side, inexperienced at this level. Going through these things is not nice but it’s part of the process.

“We have to feel the pain of these last-minute goals going against us. Looking ahead to the end of this season and into next season, that’s when you learn and not let it happen again.

“It’s experience. To get experience you need to go through situations like this.”

Blues: Edgar, Thomas, Hutchinson, F Clarke, Poole, McKechnie, Lowes, Morris, Walbridge (Wilson 59), Burrows (Griffiths 85), Hewitt (Borthwick 71).

Match sponsor: LA Builders

LA Builders’ man of the match: Ryan McKechnie

Match ball sponsor: Mike Tadd

Programme sponsor: Pat Ward

Attendance: 101