PORTLAND United suffered a 3-0 defeat to third-placed Horndean at the Camp & Satherley Stadium in Wessex Premier.

The visitors started on the front foot, with striker Zack Willett firing two shots at goal within the first three minutes, neither testing Blues keeper Mike Edgar.

Boss Franklyn Clarke was filling in as a makeshift centre-back for the contest, and applied himself well in defence during the early stages. The Blues player-manager had to provide a string of clearances.

Edgar was called into action in the 19th minute to keep the scores level as Ben Anderson played a cutting pass into the feet of Willett. The striker cut inside before drilling in a low effort, forcing the keeper into a save.

Horndean made their early pressure count, scoring the opener in the 22nd minute through the tenacity of Willett.

The forward won possession in the final third before charging towards goal and dragging the ball past Edgar to fire into an open net.

The Blues were trying to find a way back into the game, with Marcus Smith trying his luck from range in the 26th minute, however Cameron Scott made no effort in making the save.

Horndean could have doubled their lead before half-time, with Edgar parrying away a shot from Anderson but into the path of Tommy Tierney whose first time effort blazed well wide of goal.

Willett was looking a threat throughout the game and had started the second half brightly, firing a shot from outside the area in the 47th minute. Edgar responded well, tipping the effort away from the goal and around the post.

The visitors got their secnd in the 60th minute. Sam Hookey found Rudi Blankson in space, giving the number nine time to chip the ball past Edgar.

Blankson was through on goal three minutes later, but Edgar rushed off his line to deny him.

Willett bagged his brace in the 69th minute after coming in from the right side. The striker curled the ball in from a tight angle, finding the top left corner.

Horndean continued to pile on the pressure late on, but Portland were defiant, keeping out two shots out from Hookey within the space of a minute.

The result sees the Blues drop down to 16th in the division, with United Services Portland leapfrogging Portland following their 5-0 win against Alresford Town.

Blues: Edgar; Lowes (Greenwood-Neate, 55), Callow, Clarke, Ricketts; Harvey, Smith, McKechnie, Borthwick; Doyle Morris

Subs not used: Hewitt, Thomas, Sayers, Cleaver.