Portland 'threw everything' at a strong Hamworthy Recreation on Saturday (August 3), says Blues boss Kyle Critchell.

The Blues tasted defeat in their season opener at the Camp & Satherley and Critchell says they will have to 'try really hard' to put things right moving forward.

A brace from Max Wilcock proved too much for the young Blues side with the visitors attacking quality proving the difference.

Speaking to Echosport, Critchell said: "I think from our perspective we were really prepared, we had a good pre season, but ultimately we came up against a really good side who have made a lot of good signings, and they thoroughly deserved the win.

"We missed some key players, but that is not an excuse for the result, we just have to try really hard now on where we went wrong.

"We are not down beat we will watch the video and analyse were we went wrong and things we did right."

He added: "I don't think it was a one-sided affair, I just think our standards were not there in the game and we did not capitalise on the first 20 minutes when we were really on top.

"Had we done, so we would have given ourselves a platform to kick on and could have won the game.

"They did really well to defend their box as we threw everything at them and they scored two very well worked goals and that was the difference between the two sides , the quality in the forward areas."

Critchell believes that the newly promoted Hamworthy side will be a tough opponent in the Wessex Premier this season having won promotion from Wessex Division last term.

He continued: "It was a reality check for some of us.

"Sometimes you can get a little ahead of yourselves but Ham Rec have got one of the best squads I have seen in the league.

"If they keep hold of that squad, I see them being contenders for the top five at the very minimum."

Next up for Portland is the visit of Blackfield & Langley at the Camp & Satherley on Saturday, August 3 at 3pm in the Wessex Premier.