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Sturminster
Marshall 0 Portland
United 2
Stur
Line-up:
1.Paul
Maitland, 2.Ryan Mole, 3.John Elliott, 4.Luke McNally, 5.Stuart Revell, 6.Tom
Simmons, 7.Phil Sweetland, 8.Lloyd Bird, 9.Urkan Mete, 10.Dave Hounsell, 11.Will
Gage.
Substitutes:
12. Jack
Farrow (for Hounsell 80), 14. Pathak (for Urkan Mete 75)
Goals:
Portland: Adam
Linaker 2
Star man:
Will Gage
A depleted Stur
side went down 2-0 to the league leaders, on a sunny afternoon at Churchill
Close.
The game started
slowly with both sides struggling to get a grip of the game. Maitland was the
first keeper to be called upon, saving well with his feet from a
Walker
header at close range.
On 30,
Portland
took the lead. A deep free kick from the right side was headed back across the
goal and
Linaker
was first to
react, tapping in from close range.
Stur continued to
press and started to play some good football in spells. A swift move down the
right involving Sweetland, Mole and Mete forced the first Stur corner. From the
corner, debutant McNally lost his man well but headed over from 8 yards.
Half time came and
Portland went in 1-0 up.
The home side came
out fighting in the second half, but rarely threatened the
Portland goal.
The first chance of the second half fell to Stur. A neat ball through from
another Stur debutant Hounsell, set Gage through. However, the
Portland stopper
was quick off his line to deny the Stur youngster.
And then the
killer blow, Portland doubled their lead. A cross fell to
Linaker
who was given time
to bring the ball down, turn and shoot from 6 yards to make the score line 2-0.
As the game
progressed Stur began to tire and the Portland pressure increased. Bowmer made
his first change on 75, with Pathak making his debut on for the hard working
Urkan Mete. Pathak was immediately into the action, when he broke through on
goal only to be taken down by a clumsy Walker challenge. Walker was dismissed
and the resulting free kick was saved well.
On 80, Jack Farrow
made his first senior appearance coming on for the impressive Hounsell.
Stur finished well as they tried to get into the game, but Portland's defence
held strong.
Bowmer added "I
was pleased with the performance that the lads gave. Having 7 regular first
team players unavailable, we knew it was going to be tough. I was
particularly please with the new lads who made their debuts today. We are
beginning to have real competition for places now".
Final score 2-0.
Click here to read the post match comments from the Western Gazette.
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