PORTLAND UNITED 3

US PORTSMOUTH 3

AFTER a 29-day gap between games, Portland United returned with a 3-3 thriller against US Portsmouth at the Camp & Satherley Stadium.

In a wind and rain-swept match that had just about everything, the RN took the lead in the ninth minute through Danny Burroughs.

Portland had a Liam Sayers goal scrubbed out for offside but drew level on 20 minutes when Ben Morris found the net with a crisp drive.

His goal gave Portland momentum and the Blues were unlucky not to take the lead when Brin Doyle crashed a shot against the bar in the 28th minute.

Shifting the initiative once more, the RN retook the lead a matter of seconds later as Brodie Spencer beat Mike Edgar in the Portland goal.

READ MORE: Portland Town fold after player availability troubles

And, in a chaotic period, Portland wasted little time in restoring the equilibrium as Sayers bagged the goal he deserved on 31 minutes.

Both sides forced saves from the opposition keepers before half-time but the Blues emerged on top in the second half as player-boss Franklyn Clarke spurned a huge chance.

His miss did not cost Portland, who edged in front for the first time in the 48th minute when Greg Borthwick beat away keeper Owen Craig with a ruthless finish.

Clarke fired wide and sub Troy Walbridge rippled the side-netting as Portland chased a fourth, instead it was US Portsmouth who grabbed a point with three minutes to go as Reece Frost’s deflected strike whistled past Edgar.

Portland mounted heavy late pressure but could not conjure a shot on target as the spoils were shared, keeping them 16th.

Speaking to Echosport, Clarke said: “I think a point’s probably a fair result in the end.

“The conditions made it very hard to show quality. Fair play to the lads for scrapping, winning second balls, that’s all you can do.

“When you score three goals at home you’d like to win the game but, saying that, the defence played well.

“Their goals came from counter-attacks but we created loads of chances and felt we probably should’ve won on chances created but we’ll take the point.”

And Clarke was pleased with how his players reacted to a near month-long wait to play.

He said: “Yeah, I’m happy. We came back after Christmas and New Year still fit and in good condition.

“We’ve had three sessions to build up, so I didn’t expect anything other than what we did.

“The character we’ve shown to come from behind twice in the same game and then take the lead, to not know when you’re beaten, is really good.

“No-one can write us off. In the Shaftesbury game we were getting beaten 3-0 and we came back to 3-3.

“Loads of positives and a point’s better than no points. We’ll have to settle for that.”

Portland next host Bemerton on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Elsewhere, Portland’s reserves won 3-1 at Sturminster Marshall in the Dorset Premier League, with Hayden Scott, Tom Butcher and Joel Hewitt all on the scoresheet.

Blues: Edgar, Thomas, Williams, Harvey, Callow, Cleaver (Lowes 84), Doyle (Wilson 84), F Clarke, Borthwick (Walbridge 68), Sayers, Morris. Subs not used: Greenwood-Neate, Diaz.

Match sponsors: The Pask family and Dan Fuge

Match ball sponsor: Quiddles

Mascots: Hollie Daniel, Alexis Barratt and Meah Garbutt

Attendance: 155