Sturminster Marshall welcomed a new signing to their ranks with Joe Turner making his debut on right hand side of midfield and Matthew Saunders returning to the centre of defence.

Stur needed a confidence boost after their loss to Milborne and many would have thought that a tie against bottom team, Portesham would have been the perfect way to get back in with the goals.

However, despite all the new additions to the team, Portesham started brightly and took a deserved lead as a disjointed looking Stur defence tried to play the offside trap but to no avail as the Portesham striker raced through on goal to fire an unstoppable drive in to the net from 12 yards.

This sprung Stur in to action and the Portesham goalkeeper had to be on guard as Stur forward, Paul Glenister stung the fingertips of the young goalkeeper.

It was only a matter of time before Stur drew level and they were rewarded for their constant pressure when on 20 minutes, a floated Richard Davies corner kick was bundled in at the back post by top goal scorer, Paul Glenister.

The pressure started to mount on the Portesham defence and the second goal soon followed on 25 minutes when Steven Johnston approached the Portesham by-line and produced a perfect cut back for Richard Davies to side foot home from 8 yards.

Despite some scares from the bright Portesham front line with Stur goalkeeper Andy Talbot being brought in to action numerous amounts of times, Stur made it three with a swift counter attack. After some good work from Stur’s backline, the ball fell to the feet of left winger, Richard Davies who found Steven Johnston with a low driven through ball and despite the best efforts of the Portesham defence, the striker showed great determination and was rewarded for his efforts as he curled a low shot in to the far corner and gave Stur the cushion they needed approaching half time.

The second half began in similar fashion with Stur hoping to build on their lead and an inswinging corner kick was so nearly bundled home as Paul Glenister and Jack Fendley tried to force the ball over the line but the ball was finally scrambled away from the nervy Portesham defence.

However, it was not all plane sailing for Stur as Portesham showed their attacking intent by forcing Andy Talbot in to some smart saves as the game became increasingly scrappy with both teams lacking composure in ball possession.

Despite this, Star man Joe Turner, continued to fire in delicious, teasing crosses which caused havoc in the Portesham defence with Richard Davies rifling a shot on goal, only to see his shot tipped on to the crossbar  by the Portesham goalkeeper.

Manager James Foster then had to make a change when Jamie Bowles suffered a knee injury whilst making a challenge and introduced striker Rob Clark in to the action with David Johnston moving to right back.

It nearly proved to be a shrewd move by the Stur boss but when through on goal, Clark scuffed his shot horribly in to the ground and the move come to nothing.

As minutes past, the game petered out with Stur comfortable from back to front and Stur had all 3 points in the bag.

Even though, it was not a wonderful performance by the Stur boys, 3 points meant that they were hot on the heels of their next opponents, The Balti House.

NEXT GAME  - BALTI HOUSE (AWAY) 2pm KICK OFF    26TH FEBRUARY