Portland United's winning start to the Sydenhams Wessex League season came to an end in controversial fashion at Grove Corner yesterday.

After taking maximum points from their opening three encounters, the depleted Blues - missing Andy Mason, Chris Evans, Alan Rodgers, Mark Carter and Darren Tizard - were sent crashing back to earth by a slick Lymington and New Milton outfit.

But home boss Nick Preston was left fuming by the circumstances leading up to the visitor's decisive goal which came just 19 minutes into the contest.

During the build-up down the right-hand side, the assistant linesman raised his flag to inform the man in black that Ben Thomson had wandered into an offside position. But instead of blowing his whistle, Mr Gillespie waved play on, indicating the player wasn't interfering with play.

Meanwhile, Portland's backline had ground to a halt anticipating a free-kick leaving Pat James to surge forward and cross for an unmarked Thomson to blast past Paul Myers.

An angry Preston said: "I don't quite understand the referee's reasoning behind that decision and obviously I'm annoyed. He's saying that Thomson was not interfering with play and yet the lad scored the goal.

"How that can't be interfering with play I'll never know and it's very frustrating when decisions like that go against you."

Despite the controversy, an off-colour Blues didn't really deserve anything from a game in which Lymington enjoyed the upperhand.

Their passing and movement was far superior with former Bournemouth midfielder John Bailey a class above in the middle of the park.

The islanders best chance of a disappointing first half fell to James Reeve in the 38th minute, but his powerful shot from the edge of the box struck team mate David Laws.

A great save from Myers kept his side in the hunt just after the break and then Laws went close to an equaliser with a curling free-kick from the edge of the penalty area.

But it was Lymington who looked the more likely to score with both Stuart Kenna and the impressive James missing gilt-edged opportunities from inside the six-yard area.

The arrival of Chris Naylor as a late substitute did give the Blues some added firepower, but there was to be no way through a solid visiting rearguard marshalled by veteran ex-Bashley man Jimmy Sheppard.

Preston added: "We didn't play a lot of football today although our second half performance was a vast improvement on our first half showing.

"But I said that Lymington would provide the first real test for us this season, and so it proved. We just didn't cope well with their pacy front men and we've got to improve quickly on that sort of performance.

"We've got a huge game coming up in the FA Cup at Highworth Town on Saturday and the best way to put this one behind us is with a good result up there."

Blues: Myers, Bews, Reader, J Dailey, Wallis, Turrell, Perkins, Whalley, Laws, Reeve, L Dailey (Naylor 83mins). Subs not used: Carter, Preston.

Bookings: Turrell, Perkins

Attendance: 119