PORTLAND UNITED 0

HAMWORTHY UNITED 2

SECOND-half goals from Nathan Walker and Nick Swann gave Hamworthy United a 2-0 win over Portland United in a keenly-contested Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division clash at Grove Corner.

Hamworthy made the early running as Portland goalkeeper Sean Lillington was forced into two tip-overs in quick succession from Jamie Filkins and Nathan Walker.

Moments later, Eddie Hodge, a livewire throughout the first half, curled a shot from 25 yards that Lillington safely gathered before Walker wasted a back-post chance when unmarked from a corner.

Hodge then had two chances in five minutes when he shot tamely low to Lillington’s left before racing through and narrowly beating Lillington to the ball, only to see the onrushing goalkeeper smother his effort.

Ten minutes before half-time, Lillington made another excellent save low to his right to deny Filkins, who was found in acres of space by Nick Swann.

Hamworthy again started strongly in the second half and on 63 minutes a Carl Preston free-kick was allowed to dribble along the ground for the late fun of Walker, who slid the ball home past Lillington.

Brendon King’s side doubled their lead six minutes later when the slippery Hodge fed in Nick Swann, who side-footed past Lillington from 12 yards.

Portland had their first major chance when substitute Sol Ayunga flicked on for Lewis Clarke, but the striker’s shot was straight at Andy Knights’ side-netting.

In the 90th minute, Alex Godfrey launched an effort from 40 yards that had Knights worried, but the backpedaling keeper clung on despite backing into the post as Hamworthy preserved their clean sheet and took all three points.

Speaking to Echosport after the match, Blues’ boss Simon Browne felt his team was “toothless” up front.

He said: “We weren’t good in the boxes at the weekend. I thought we defended okay but we were a little bit toothless up front and I might have to have a look at that scenario because we didn’t create a massive amount.

“That’s a little bit worrying, because if you can score goals you’ve always got a chance. It’s disappointing we’ve lost two on the bounce but we got beaten by the better side.”

Blues: Lillington, A Smith (Ayunga 71), C Clarke, Bessant, S Buckler, M. Buckler, Doidge, Halloran, L Clarke, Godfrey, Morris (Holland 83). Subs not used: Payne, Mitchell, Diaz

Hamworthy: Knights, Filkins, Randell, Hodge (Rose 83), N Walker, Montacute, Gleeson, B Walker, S Smith (Zanin 83), Swann (Nicholson 83), Preston. Subs not used: S Clarke, Randell

Attendance: 222

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