WESTLAND SPORTS 1 PORTLAND UNITED 1

A TOUGH day at the office saw Portland United succumb to a stalemate at Westland Sports, a draw which Blues’ boss Gary Bailey admitted felt like a defeat as they dropped points in the title race.

Adam Linaker’s 75th minute strike cancelled out a second-half opener for the home side in bizarre circumstances, as the island club failed to take their opportunity to leapfrog Hamworthy Recreation, who had their contest with Bridport Reserves postponed at Magna Road.

On a tricky surface, Portland dominated the opening period and only a couple first-class saves from the Westland goalkeeper prevented them going in ahead at the break.

But following the interval, it was the Yeovil-based side who struck first, in a controversial manner.

Portland’s Ashley Smith believed he had shepherded the ball out of play down the channel for a throw-in, but was adjudged to have picked the ball up prematurely, and the match official awarded Westland a free-kick for handball.

From that set-piece, Sports earned themselves a corner and went on to net the opener when the ball was bundled home at the near post.

Commenting on the incident, Bailey told Echosport: “I’ve never seen a player of mine not know whether a ball has gone out of play and end up just picking it up. We were baffled by it.”

But on 75 minutes, the Blues got their leveller, with Smith involved once again.

His good work down the right saw him deliver for Adam Linaker, who stabbed home to make it 1-1.

And although the Blues threw men forward in search of a winner, it was the home side who squandered a golden chance to seal three points when they blazed a late penalty wide of the mark.

Bailey added: “It felt like a loss to be honest, I struggled to take too many positives from our point of view.

“We created chances but lacked desire in and around the box, that’s unforgivable for me because it is the business end. Too many times it has happened this season and it’s cost us points.”

The result means the Blues remain third in the Dorset Premier League table, five points adrift of leaders Merley Cobham Sports, who convincingly won 6-1 at Sturminster Marshall.

Bailey added: “Hopefully the lads have a long hard think about things before next Saturday because I know I will be, things will have to change. “If it doesn’t happen soon, our season is in danger of just fizzling out and that is something I’m desperate not to happen.

Blues: Bickerstaff, Smith, Whyton, B Doidge, Holland (Hansford 88), Carmichael, Critchell, R Doidge (Price 65), McKechnie, Bastick, May (Linaker 60).