GREG Borthwick bagged a brace as Portland United secured their first win of the Wessex Premier season, crushing Cowes Sports 5-1 at Camp & Satherley Stadium.

Brin Doyle, Archie Woolford and Matt Harvey were also on target in the rout.

Portland came into the game with just four points from their opening five league fixtures this term.

They were hosting a Cowes team who sat well up in the top half, with 10 points to their name already.

But the Blues made light work of their opposition.

Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes with Cowes arriving late due to protests happening elsewhere in Portland.

When the game did get going, there were early chances at both ends. Borthwick and Ben Morris went close early on for the hosts, while Harrison Bruton was called into action in the Portland goal.

George Stuttle also produced a vital last-ditch block, before the deadlock was broken on 28 minutes through Borthwick. Poor defending saw the ball fall kindly at the feet of the striker, who lifted it over the goalkeeper.

Bruton made a fine one-on-one save to keep Portland ahead, before Doyle doubled the advantage, collecting possession from Morris.

Blues were finishing the half strongly and went in at the break 3-0 ahead, Borthwick heading home.

The forward was denied his hat-trick by a good save on the hour mark, before Cowes pulled a goal back through Finley Phillips.

The visitors sensed a dramatic comeback, but that was quelled thanks to Woolford’s fine solo effort on 88 minutes.

Then, at the death, Harvey wrapped up the victory.

Portland climb up to 14th in the table, with attention now turning to their FA Vase trip to Wincanton Town on Saturday (3pm).

Blues: Bruton, Harvey, Bessant, Symes, Stuttle, Williams, McKechnie (Delves, 86), Sheehy (Woolford, 64), Doyle (Scott, 86), Morris, Borthwick.

Unused subs: Gadsby, Diaz.

Attendance: 212.