BRIDPORT RESERVES 0 PORTLAND UNITED 2

PORTLAND maintained their push for the Dorset Premier League title as they beat Bridport for the third time in all competitions this season.

A goal in each half from Ross Carmichael and Ross Doidge did the damage for the Blues, who are now four points behind leaders Merley Cobham Sports with six games left.

The victory for the islanders at St Mary’s Field wasn’t without incident.

Portland were reduced to 10 men in the second period when substitute Charlie May received his marching orders following two yellow cards.

“It was nice to get a win away from home and keep a clean sheet,” said Portland manager Gary Bailey.

“Bridport have been on a good run of late so we knew it was going to be a tough fixture down there.

“It’s good to get another one out of the way and we’ll just keep plugging away.”

The Blues are back at Grove Corner on Saturday when they take on Tintinhull.

However, striker Lewis Clarke will play no part in that match after sustaining a nasty finger injury against the Bees.

Meanwhile, Bridport boss Robin Townsend was slightly frustrated with the way his side conceded on Tuesday night.

“I was a bit disappointed with the result,” he said. “Portland are going for the league and we knew we had to be switched on defensively.

“We’ve been like that in the last four games but we got off to a poor start and gave away a needless free-kick.

“They put the ball in the box and we gave their guy a free header after about five minutes.

“But credit to our lads, they came back into the game and I’d like to think we were probably the better side in the first half.

“We created some openings but I wouldn’t say they were golden chances. Jamie Fry made a great save towards the end of the half that kept the score at 1-0.”

He went on to add: “Portland didn’t let us get back into it in the second half and they made it 2-0 on the hour mark.

“We switched off again at a set play but it was a well-taken goal.”

Townsend expects a reversal in fortunes when the Bees entertain Cranborne this weekend.

Only two points separate the sides in the league but the Bees are 12 points better off.

Bees: Fry, Peart, Dunlop, Herbst, Day, H Fleet, B Clarke, T Gale (S Gale), Rh Hayter (Walken), G Bulman (Stordy), Scovell.

Blues: Bickerstaff, Camp, Austin, Carmichael, B Doidge, R Doidge, McKechnie, Smith, Whyton, L Clarke (Bessant), Linaker (May). Subs not used: Holland, Mutch