BLANDFORD UNITED 1 Portland UNITED 6

PORTLAND produced their best performance of the season so far to secure a stunning 6-1 victory at Blandford United.

A defensive mix-up handed the Royals a shock early lead but the Blues soon turned the tables with goals from Ashley Wells and Sam Pattison, before Alex Halloran added a third from the spot just prior to the interval after a home player had handled the ball in the box.

Joe Toghill, John Litherland and substitute Shane Sheridan then completed the rout in the second half to give the islanders a much-needed lift following the previous week’s home defeat against Wincan-ton Town.

Portland boss Stuart Heath said: “It was a very good performance. In fact, it was the best of the season so far.

“Our movement was good and the quality of our passing was outstanding, and for much of the game Blandford could not cope with it.

“We played to our strengths and to the level we know we can with every single player putting in a good performance, which is all you can ask for.

“We have been training well but we have not always been able to transfer that into games but on Saturday we did exactly that and the challenge now is to do it on a consistent basis.

“We have had a slow start to the season and there is no getting away from that but it is still early days and I am confident we will get better.

“Already this season, we have come back from behind on a couple of occasions, which shows great character, and at the weekend our extra quality and fitness levels really showed, so hopefully we can now build on that over the next few weeks and try and put a run of results together.”

The Blues currently sit fourth in the Magna Dorset Premier League, just two points adrift of table-toppers Westland Sports. However, Heath’s men have played one game more.

The islanders will next be in action on Saturday when they host mid-table outfit Merley Cobham Sports at Grove Corner (3pm).

Blues: Carroll, Wells (Dailey 70), Reader, Whyton, Carter, Doidge, Toghill, Halloran, Litherland, Pattison (Sheridan 70), Linaker (Batchelor 80). Sub not used: Luque.