Portland UTD 3 BRIDPORT RES 1

LIAM Beades netted a fine brace as Portland United finally recorded their first win of the season at Grove Corner last night.

Following three successive stalemates in the Magna Dorset Premier League, the Blues looked on course for another tough evening when Harry Fleet put Bridport Reserves ahead in only the second minute but as the game wore on the Blues got stronger and in the end thoroughly deserved the three points.

Beades netted his first on the stroke of half-time before completing the comeback in the 73rd minute after a fine move down the right.

Substitute Alex Godfrey then added a bit of gloss to the result with a third just before the end and for Portland boss Stuart Heath the result was a just reward for his side’s continued hard work.

He said: “That was the best we have started a game so far this season, so for them to go ahead like they did was a bit of a sucker punch.

“I was a bit worried how that would affect the lads after three successive draws but as soon as that goal went in they got their heads back up and thoroughly deserved the three points in the end.

“This is still a long term thing. I know we are not equipped to win this league this year. But for the future, we have got some great lads who are still three or four years away from their peak and that is why we have got to stay patient and not put too much pressure on them.”

The Bees stunned United by taking the lead after just two minutes when some slack defending saw Chris Herbst given too much space down the left.

He crossed for Fleet who applied a cool finish on the half-volley to beat Wayne Gifford and find the top left corner of the net.

Ben Clarke then headed over from Sam Day’s cross on eight minutes but after that it was pretty much all one-way traffic.

As the half drew on the Blues slowly found their feet with ex-Bridport man Tom Coggins and Richard Marshallsay driving them on from midfield.

Coggins struck an effort wide from 25 yards on 11 minutes before Nick Ether-ington went close with two headers.

The former Chickerell United ace should have done better with his first attempt, which rolled harmlessly wide, but he soon made amends with the second, which beat keeper Lee Cleal only to be hacked away by Adam Stordy close to the goal-line.

However, there was nothing anyone could do to deny Etherington’s strike partner Beades on 43 minutes. The powerful target man lost his marker and coolly volleyed home from close range after Marshallsay had sent over a sublime cross from the left.

After the break the Blues continued to build the pressure and after Coggins shot wide and Etherington had an effort saved at point-blank range by Cleal, Beades grabbed his second by firing home a fine pull back by Wells.

Godfrey then wrapped up the result in the 88th minute with an effort from an acute angle, which squirmed through Cleal’s legs.

After winning their first two games of the season, the result was another blow for Bees’ boss Steve Crabb, who also saw his side lose 3-2 against Weymouth Reserves last Saturday after being two goals up.

He said: “We have played two good sides in quick succession. Both teams will be up there competing at the top of the table at the end of the season and for us this was another lesson in how we need to learn to keep the ball better.”

Blues: Gifford, Wells, Austin, Cranny, Carter, Miles (Godfrey 54), Smith (Sibley 88), Coggins, Etherington (Pattison 76), Beades, Marshallsay. Subs not used: Turrell.

Bees: Cleal, Stordy, Herbst, Bulman, A Clarke, Day, Fleet (Symes 75), Peart, B Clarke, Gale, Steele (Boyer 69). Subs not used: Moss.