DORCHESTER SPORTS 2

PORTLAND UNITED RES 2

DORCHESTER Sports rued a missed opportunity against 10 men after Portland United Reserves claimed a 2-2 draw at the Avenue Stadium.

Portland have been one of the surprise packages of the Dorset Premier League season and were fourth coming into this game.

However, the islanders had to earn a point the hard way as the impressive Todd Coombs put Sports into an early 1-0 lead, blasting home from Josh Leake’s cross.

Sports could have made it 2-0 but for Joel Hewitt inadvertently blocking Alex Godfrey’s goalbound strike on the line.

READ MORE: Dorchester Sports 2-2 Wimborne Town Reserves - report

That moment proved significant in the scheme of the game as Josh Camp, who had only re-joined the Blues from Sports earlier this season, tapped home Jacob Coombs’ cross for 1-1.

An even more crucial flashpoint came in the 35th minute as Portland’s John Pritchard was shown a red card for a heavy tackle on Todd Coombs, who was soon replaced with an ankle injury by Josh McFetridge.

Portland played a crafty game despite their numerical disadvantage and threatened on the break, Camp finishing well for his second goal at the back post in the 55th minute.

Portland defended their lead resolutely but were undone from a corner as Hewitt hammered home from close-range.

At 2-2, either side could have won it as Jacob Coombs placed wide when clean through on the counter and Godfrey firing over from inside the area.

The result was Sports’ second consecutive 2-2 draw in the DPL and boss Ashley James felt two points had passed his team by.

He told Echosport: “I’m not pleased with a point. They went down to 10 men and with us being at home, I’d have expected us to go on and create a few more chances.

“We were really good in the first 30 minutes and after the injury to Todd, I think we kind of lost our way.

“I thought they were the better team definitely in the last half an hour. We didn’t look like we were going to win it.

“It was a disappointing result. That’s football and it’s still hard against 10 men, but you’ve got to try and get a result.

“I just felt we didn’t really create enough to win the game, which was the most disappointing bit.

“They defended well and still attacked. They took the lead and were still going for it. They made some good substitutions.

“Unfortunately, our squad was thin so we didn’t have anyone to change the game like they did. It was frustrating all round.

“Todd was running the game and the injury to him was a massive disappointment for us.”

Dorch Sports: Duncalf, Brumble, Sands, Browne, O’Shaughnessy, T Coombs (McFetridge 35), Watts, Godfrey, Sheehy (Walters 85), Leake, Hewitt. Sub not used: Heal.