PORTLAND UNITED 2

WINCANTON TOWN 2

PORTLAND United came from two goals down earn a point in the Wessex League against Wincanton Town.

The Blues had fallen behind early doors at the Camp and Satherley as goals from Dan Wise and Lewis Voizey put the visitors ahead after 15 minutes.

A Brinley Doyle goal just before the break and a goal from Shaun Bessant - on his 300th game for the club - ensured the Blues picked up a point in what was an exciting game.

The defeat ends a run of three league defeats on the bounce and means the club sit 14th in the league after 22 games at the turn of the year.

Wincanton got off to a flying start as Wise fired in a free kick from the edge of the box to put this visitors in front within five minutes.

Not even ten minutes later and The Wasps had doubled their lead as Voizey rose highest to head home a corner from Wise.

Portland thought they had pulled one back through Stef Stavrianos, but the young forward was flagged for offside.

Max Buckler and Crit Clarke combined well down the left which allowed Clarke the chance to shoot but his effort flew over the bar.

The Blues spurned another chance to pull one back as Stavrianos and Lewis Toms linked up but Toms could not quite get his shot on target.

In added time in the first half the Blues finally got their reward and managed to half the deficit moments before the break.

Doyle's delivery into the box was met by Stavrianos whose effort was saved, but Doyle was on hand to smash the ball home on the rebound.

After the break Buckler made a superb last ditch tackle to deny Wincanton a third moments before the Blues would pull level.

Bessant then come off the bench for Buckler and made an instant impact in his 300th game.

The veteran defender reacted quickest to a Pat jenkins flick on from a free kick and lobbed Nathan Ball in the Wincanton goal.

With around 15 minutes to go there was a stop in play as Matt Garner received treatment for a cut on his head - which he claimed came from the boot of a Portland player.

Once play resumed Wincanton had a chance to win the game in the final ten minutes as Joe Becky, Louis Irwin and Darren McAlister combined well but the ball went narrowly wide of Tom Jobe's post.

PORTLAND UNITED: Jobe, Coombs, Clarke, Gadsby, Stuttle, Buckler (Bessant 55), Beale, Toms (Coats 90+1), Jenkins (Walbridge 61), Doyle, Stavrianos

WINCANTON TOWN: Ball, Williams (Ansell 72), Jarvis, Dicker, Wise (Hilton 82), Mack (Irwin 75), Allison, Voizey, Hodges (Garner 75), Crisp (Beckey 67), McAlistair