BLANDFORD UNITED 2

PORTLAND UNITED 5

PORTLAND United preserved their 100 per cent record in pre-season with a 5-2 victory over Dorset Premier League side Blandford United.

Kyle Critchell’s Blues had to battle back from 1-0 down but soon asserted themselves as their quality in the final third shone.

The scoreline could even have inflated further were it not for a missed penalty by James Coat late on.

Blandford started strongly, Jake Ford narrowly missing the target with an overhead kick before the Royals took the lead when Elliot Manson bundled home a Dan Holland long throw using his rear quarters.

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Portland found their equaliser in the 25th minute, George Stuttle heading in at the near post from Joe Wickham’s corner.

Stuttle then turned creator for Jamie Symes three minutes later, his cross from out wide headed home by the player-assistant.

Symes missed the target with a cheeky lob from near halfway before half-time but the Blues required only seven minutes of the second period to make it 3-1.

Jack Delves was the spark, robbing the Royals of possession and freeing Freddie Beale to fire beyond keeper Sam Pike.

Portland ushered on all seven subs before the hour mark but the changes did not disrupt their rhythm as Josh Camp slotted home number four on 60 minutes after tenacious work from Beale.

Former Portland striker Tom Butcher, recently announced as one of Blandford’s new signings, then had a hand in the Royals’ second goal.

Meeting a cross, he powered a header against Riley Greenwood-Neate and the effort diverted beyond keeper Harrison Wallis for 4-2.

Wallis then had to be alert to tip away Reuben Stanley’s sweet header before Coat grabbed his first goal in Portland attire, driving home a low finish from 20 yards.

At 5-2, the Blues could have added to their tally in the 89th minute with a penalty, awarded for a foul on Coat after excellent interplay between Camp and Archie Woolford.

However, Coat failed to take a leaf out of England’s book and could only blaze over when he stepped up to take the spot-kick.

Portland’s victory now gives them a healthy total of 12 goals in three games this summer.

Critchell’s men will face their biggest test of pre-season on Tuesday when Poole Town visit the Camp & Satherley Stadium for the Blues’ first home match of the summer.

Blues: Wallis, Wickham (Woolford 46), Clarke (Greenwood-Neate 58), Bessant, Gadsby (Holloway 46), Stuttle (Coat 58), Scott (Beale 46), Cleaver (Husher 58), Symes (Walbridge 58), Camp, Delves.