US PORTSMOUTH 2

PORTLAND UNITED 3

SENSATIONAL Portland United stunned US Portsmouth with two stoppage-time goals to grasp victory from the jaws of defeat in their Wessex League Premier Division clash.

Kyle Critchell’s men were trailing 2-1 on the road until the 91st minute when Hayden Scott levelled before Bailey Rowe’s 95th-minute winner sent the Blues into pandemonium.

Portland’s fifth successive win elevated them to 12th but the three points were tinged with concern for striker Greg Borthwick who suffered a suspected broken arm.

Borthwick’s injury came in the seventh minute of the contest as he hurtled into what were believed to be cricket pitch covers just beyond the byline.

While Borthwick awaited an ambulance, Liam Sayers replaced him but there was little action of note in a scrappy start.

READ MORE: Portland United yet to hold player talks for the 2023/24 season

Elliot Holmes shovelled over for USP, as did Ben Morris for Portland as quality deserted the teams in the first half.

However, it took less than a minute for the hosts to score in the second half when Portland keeper Mike Edgar let Holmes’ effort slip into the net.

Portland responded when Shaun Bessant headed at keeper Logan O’Donnell, but Critchell had seen enough and brought on Connor Callow and Hayden Scott for George Stuttle and Brin Doyle 58 minutes in.

Centre-back Bessant also had Portland’s next two chances, hitting a deflected shot wide and then blazing over from the resulting corner.

Jack Delves had no trouble finishing, though, as the midfielder rocketed a 30-yard screamer beyond O’Donnell to equalise on 70 minutes.

Sayers was denied as Portland chased a second, but the lively Dan Sibley restored USP’s lead by rounding Edgar and tapping home for 2-1.

His goal set up a grandstand finale as Scott pounced after pinball in the area, but there was more to come.

Sayers launched an arcing ball into the box and Rowe timed his run perfectly to guide a header past O’Donnell and seal the points, sending the Portland supporters into bedlam.

Speaking to Echosport, Critchell said: “The character was amazing. I wasn’t overly pleased with the first-half performance.

“But to come away, you’re going to have to stay in games at times. We did that and managed to score two goals at the end.

“We’re delighted and that’s five in a row. The obstacle was to come from behind, so we’re making good progress.

“Everybody put in 100 per cent, the desire was there and that’s all you can ask for. I’ve got such a good group that want to do well. I couldn’t be prouder to walk away with three points.”

Describing the scenes on the touchline after Rowe’s winner, Critchell added: “When the winner went in, we were ecstatic.

“We wanted to win, that’s what we came for. We weren’t going to settle for a point. It’s such a fantastic feeling.”

Portland visit Pagham on Saturday (3pm).