Portland 2, GILLINGHAM 0

PORTLAND eased their way comfortably into the last eight in the Senior Cup at Grove Corner last night with a goal in each half from skipper Darren Whyton and Nigel Evans.

"They put up a scrap for the first half-hour and for another ten minute spell just after half-time but generally we were in control," said a well satisfied Blues boss Nick Preston.

"It was a bit of a messy game but we kept our discipline and the lads did the professional job I asked them to do," added Preston who is hoping for a tilt at either Weymouth or Dorchester (if they beat Hamworthy) in the next round.

Although the Combination League side kept the Blues on their toes, they rarely troubled Paul Myers in the home goal. In contrast Gills 'keeper Parfitt made three excellent saves including one superb effort from Evans midway through the second-half.

The Blues were forced to make two changes from the side which drew with Andover on Saturday with youngster Jason Thoday and Micky Greeno deputising for Andy Perkins and Mark Carter. And Thoday was one of the big successes of the night with an impressive display at right back.

Early exchanges were littered with niggling fouls and misplaced passes and it was half an hour before the Blues made the breakthrough.

Dave Whalley put Whyton clear on the left wing and he beat Parfitt from an acute angle with a well placed, left foot shot.

The Jewson Wessex League side forced plenty of corners and restricted Gills to breakaway attacks but were unable to add to their lead until five minutes into the second-half.

Greeno's corner kick was met by Evans and his near post header found the net from six yards.

The goal spurred Gillingham but they failed to pierce a sound home defence and such was Preston's confidence that he took off Whyton, Dave Wallis and Andy Perkins to give subs Jimmy Dailey, Scott Dennis and Mark Fitch a run out.

Although the visitors huffed and puffed right up to the final whistle, it was the Blues who continued to call the tune with Parfitt saving well from James Reeve and Evans while Andy Turrell was also unlucky when his free-kick hit the crossbar in the 80th minute.

Portland: Myers, Wallis (Dailey), Thoday, Kenway (Dennis), Whyton (Fitch), Turrell, Whalley, Evans, Skelton, Reeve, Greeno.

Attendance: 100