PORTLAND UNITED 3

POOLE TOWN 4

ARCHIE Woolford’s outstanding hat-trick narrowly missed out on providing a shock against Poole Town as Portland United lost 4-3 at Shaftesbury.

In their fourth summer friendly, Portland were always expected to encounter a tough test against the Dolphins, who play two divisions above the Blues in Step 3.

But they were always in the game, even after former Weymouth and Dorchester winger Antonio Diaz put Steve Tully’s men in front 21 minutes in.

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Portland needed only two minutes to respond as Woolford dispossessed Poole in a dangerous area and slid home a good finish beyond the Dolphins’ trialist goalkeeper.

Woolford’s second goal came on 29 minutes and was of genuine quality, latching onto Jack Delves’ long ball, outmuscling the covering defender and having the presence of mind to round the keeper and score for 2-1.

Toby Holmes hit the post for Poole before two brilliant long-range goals in three minutes by Billy Lowes turned the scoreline on its head.

Unperturbed, Woolford grabbed his hat-trick after the break as Portland levelled for the second time.

However, parity lasted only briefly as Charlie Davis curled a beautiful 25-yard free-kick beyond Harrison Wallis in goal for 4-3.

In the closing stages, Tom Hewlett had an effort cleared off the line for Poole before Portland spurned two opportunities to make it 4-4.

First, Josh Camp glanced a chance wide and then Freddie Beale’s free-kick was tipped round the post.

All in all, this was a superb performance against higher-league opposition that hints at real progress being made by Critchell’s men.

Blues: Wallis, Woolford (Husher 71), Stuttle (Clarke 71), Williams (Symes 79), Bessant, Gadsby, Scott (Coat 64), Delves (Cleaver 57), Borthwick (Camp 46), Jenkins, Beale.