PORTLAND UNITED 1

BAFFINS MILTON ROVERS 1

PORTLAND United rode their luck on their way to a 1-1 draw with Velocity Wessex League Premier Division leaders Baffins Milton Rovers.

The draw extends to eight games Portland’s unbeaten home run under Kyle Critchell and is the fourth successive league game in which they have shared the points.

In the fourth minute, Portland took the lead in a match for the first time in five matches this season when Ben Morris steered an accurate finish through the eye of a needle in a crowded box.

Baffins then began to dominate as Harrison Bruton was forced into a good save moments before Miles Everett smashed against the bar in the tenth minute.

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Bruton was again called upon to make a vital stop midway through the half, tipping Dan Burroughs’ header onto the post.

Burroughs was then unlucky to see another header cleared off the line by Hayden Scott.

The overworked Bruton kept his gloves warm by keeping out Kelvin Robinson’s glancing header and pushing away an effort from Burroughs on 32 minutes.

Portland, having weathered the storm, went in search of goal number two only for Brin Doyle to blaze over after good work to engineer space for the shot.

However, it took just two minutes of the second half for Baffins to equalise, Casey Bartlett-Scott escaping to the byline where he then picked out Robinson to bury a clinical finish for 1-1.

Robinson was replaced just five minutes later by Calum Benfield but the change did not halt Baffins’ momentum.

Rovers hit the woodwork twice more as Charlie Oakwell’s diving header clipped the bar and the Baffins skipper then set up Dillon North to crash a fourth shot against the uprights for the visitors.

In a frantic finish, Portland sub Luke Sheehy’s chip was cleared off the line and Tom Patterson’s goal was ruled out for offside as Baffins still could not find a winner.

Baffins hit the woodwork for a fifth time when Bartlett-Scott’s corner hit the bar but Portland could have stolen it at the death as Liam Sayers was denied by Baffins’ keeper Luke Deacon in the 95th minute.

In the end, Portland were left to reflect on a point tinted with a touch of fortune.

Critchell told Echosport: “We’ll definitely take a point but it’s definitely one of the worst performances we’ve had under my tenure.

“There’s multiple reasons behind that. They were a good side, created a host of chances and should’ve won comfortably if I’m frank. Our lads know that.

“One thing we didn’t do was give up. They fought for the shirt and we were able to somehow maintain the draw.

“It shows how far we’ve come but I’m disappointed with our ball retention. We’re still not where we want to be.”

Blues: Bruton, Harvey, Callow (Sheehy 46), Williams, Bessant, Gadsby, Doyle, McKechnie (Critchell 82), Scott (Sayers 62), Delves, Morris.

Attendance: 197.

Match sponsor: Jim Hinde.

Man of the match sponsors: The Syndicate.

Match ball sponsor: Tony Babb.

Programme sponsor: Clive Saunders.

Mascots: Charlie and Phoebe Wilson.