STURMINSTER NEWTON UNITED 1

PORTLAND UNITED 5

PORTLAND United kicked off their summer endeavours with a clinical 5-1 win over Sturminster Newton United at Shaftesbury.

Kyle Critchell’s men chose the Cherries, newly promoted to Step 6, as opponents due to their physicality and they were not disappointed in a rigorous friendly.

As expected, Portland carried the greater quality and saw Jamie Symes flick a Freddie Beale cross onto the roof of the net in the fourth minute.

Blues’ keeper Sam Moggeridge was kept honest too, catching a powerful drive, but Portland almost took the lead when Cherries headed a George Stuttle long throw narrowly beyond their own near post.

READ MORE: Kyle Critchell's life in football - in-depth feature

Pat Jenkins also chipped over after a mix-up involving Stur keeper Theo Crane but they duly took the lead in the 28th minute when Symes spotted the shot-stopper off his line, arrowing a low 35-yarder towards goal.

It appeared as if Crane would control the shot but Symes’ effort skidded beyond him and into the bottom-right corner for 1-0.

Another Stuttle long throw caused Stur similar problems in the 35th minute, only for Jenkins to aim an airshot at the back post with the goal gaping.

However, Jenkins made amends four minutes later as the impressive Beale’s left-wing cross picked out Stuttle, whose downward header clattered the post and fell invitingly for the striker to touch home.

There was time for a third before the break as Portland sliced open the Cherries with a free-kick routine, allowing Stuttle to thump in from 12 yards.

Portland made seven changes at the break but it was Sturminster Newton who grabbed the next goal courtesy of Aaron Lane-Leney’s instinctive finish in the 49th minute.

Portland skipper Josh Williams powered two long-range efforts at Crane either side of the Cherries’ goal, before a late flourish from the Blues.

Stur conceded a needless penalty 11 minutes from time and sub Greg Borthwick stepped up to slot the spot-kick into the bottom-left corner.

And good work from Hayden Scott to feed fellow sub Crit Clarke on the left allowed the full-back to drive into the box and pick his spot beyond Crane for 5-1 in added time.

Portland next move on to an away date at Bridport on Saturday (2pm).

Blues: Moggeridge, Greenwood-Neate (Coat 46), Stuttle (Clarke 46), Callow (Bessant 46), Gadsby (Holloway 46), Cleaver (Scott 41), Williams, Delves (Husher 46), Beale (Jenkins 73), Jenkins (Camp 46), Symes (Borthwick 46).