PORTLAND UNITED 0

BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY 0

PORTLAND United earned a rare Wessex League Premier Division clean sheet in an eventful 0-0 draw with Blackfield & Langley.

The Blues appear to have turned a corner in October and Franklyn Clarke’s men continued their good form with another point at the Camp & Satherley Stadium.

They were rewarded with a first league clean sheet since mid-August, a 4-0 victory over Hythe & Dibden.

After an immaculate rendition of The Last Post by Robert Pask, commemorating Remembrance Day, the action came thick and fast.

Portland keeper Mike Edgar made the first big save before striker Joel Hewitt clattered into an advertising board and later needed glue to hold a knee wound together.

Greg Borthwick replaced him with 15 minutes gone and his fellow forward Troy Walbridge was next involved, seeing a flicked effort cleared off the line.

READ MORE: Portland United 2-2 Bournemouth Poppies - match report

Blues’ winger Matty Burrows was causing all sorts of trouble for the Watersiders and fired over before half-time.

Clarke himself tried a cheeky 50-yard lob from the restart, his effort floating over.

Burrows, however, went closest when his free-kick was pushed onto the bar by keeper Stephen Hodder.

Burrows was proving a menace for the visitors and he saw a shot cleared off the line before sending the rebound wide.

Blackfield responded with a dangerous free-kick and Ben Morris was denied by a superb Hodder save when one-on-one.

The visitors then rattled the bar themselves with a strike from the edge of the box.

However, after an entertaining game, the sides settled for a point.

Clarke told Echosport: “It was a really good point. First-half against the wind we have to defend and manage the game until half-time.

“Second half we could’ve put the game to bed with big chances. We just didn’t take them.

“That’s a not a problem. There’s a problem when you’re not creating them. Another top performance.”

Assistant Sam Poole added: “Really pleased with the clean sheet. Although we haven’t had clean sheets over the last few games, we have been limiting teams to very few chances.

“We’ve just been a bit unlucky. The defensive display was brilliant. Harry Thomas was man of the match but all four of us and Mike I’m really pleased for.”

Portland’s point sees them drop one place to 17th ahead of a trip to leaders Horndean on Saturday.

Blues: Edgar, Thomas, Hutchinson, F Clarke, Poole, Griffiths, Burrows, Smith, Walbridge, Morris, Hewitt (Borthwick 15, Ryan 78). Sub not used: Moggeridge.

Attendance: 150

Man of the match: Harry Thomas

Match sponsor: Ian Hooper & The Glory Hounds

Match ball sponsors: Charlie & Anne Bilke

Man of the match sponsor: Josh Barton

Mascots: Ollie Milnes, Jack Mynes, Cameron Rutland and Oliver Spearing