PORTLAND UNITED 2

AFC PORTCHESTER 3

PORTLAND United were harshly denied victory over new leaders AFC Portchester as former Bournemouth and Portsmouth striker Brett Pitman completed a late hat-trick in a 3-2 win.

Portland had led twice but were undone by Pitman’s appetite for goals, his tally now 23 in 17 league games since dropping down to Step 5.

The result was a tough one to swallow for the Blues. However, against opposition many have tipped for Wessex League Premier Division glory, this was a performance brimming with positives.

After Pitman aimed a diving header wide in the first minute, Portland grew into the game and came close to scoring when Ben Morris twice shot off target.

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Portchester then came back into it when James Cowan and Elliott Wheeler passed up good chances.

It was therefore slightly against the run of play when Portland took the lead through an athletic effort from Greg Borthwick, who beat keeper Steve Mowthorpe to find the bottom corner.

However, Portland’s lead lasted two minutes as Pitman got on the end of a flick-on to nod past Mike Edgar on the stroke of half-time.

Portchester continued on the front foot in the second half as Marley Ridge and Pitman were denied but Portland hit back once again as Ryan McKechnie spun into space and rifled past Mowthorpe for 2-1.

The Blues suddenly sensed blood as Liam Sayers stabbed wide and Mowthorpe needed to be at his best to deny Brin Doyle.

As the game ebbed and flowed, Edgar repelled Pitman after a big spell of Blues pressure.

That was until quick passes from Portchester in their next attack unlocked the home defence with Pitman then making no mistake for his second.

Edgar made a full-length stop from Harrison Brook six minutes from time before Oli Lowes fired wide for Portland on 90 minutes.

There was a cruel twist for the hosts, however, as Conor Bailey found Pitman who duly buried a clinical finish in the 91st minute.

Portland poured forward in search of a leveller but Portchy nearly caught them on the break for the fourth, Ben Raine thudding an effort against the post as the away side twice came from behind to take three points.

Speaking to Echosport, Portland boss Franklyn Clarke said: “I feel like we should’ve taken all three points.

“We were 2-1 up and had four big chances to kill the game off. Every chance that goes by that you don’t take, you feel the momentum and energy change. It swings towards them.

“They were just absolutely ruthless. Chance, goal. Chance, goal. When you look at the resources they have, and the players they have, we shouldn’t even be competing.

“To take them to where we did, they had to score in the 91st minute to win, it shows how well we’ve done.”

Portland host Hamworthy Rec on Tuesday in a rearranged Dorset Senior Cup tie (7.30pm).

Blues: Edgar, Harvey, Morris, Callow, Stuttle, McKechnie, F Clarke (Lowes 86), Williams, Sayers (Walbridge 85), Borthwick (M Smith 71), Doyle. Subs not used: Thomas, J Lucas.

Attendance: 143

Match sponsors: Hearn & Sons

Match ball sponsor: Kath Sanderson

Programme sponsor: Café Oasis – Paul Cocks