08.02.26 Chapel Gate : KO 14.00

Bournemouth Sports recorded their first home win in three months with a 1-0 win against Portland United Reserves on a mixed afternoon of weather at Chapel Gate. 

Sports with a new formation in recent weeks were often on the front foot in the early stages and scored the only goal of the game in the 23rd minute when striker Dan Hayward played a lovely weighted diagonal ball across the pitch for new recent signing Billy Mcdermott to race onto a fire wide of Portland Goalkeeper Andy Ennals into the far corner.

The men from Chapel Gate went close to increasing the lead when Jamie Booth played a low cross into the box, but Taylor Webb was unable to make a connection. A Tom Beckett corner saw Billy Mcdermott almost doubling his side’s lead, but his effort was cleared off the line by a Portland defender. At the other end and late on in the half Portland striker Rocco Walsh headed over from a cross. HT 1-0 

Bournemouth started the second half brightly with a Jake Perch cross finding substitute James Bergin who fired just over. Keeper Jakub Lewiarz had to be alert in the 80th minute to make a fine save from an effort just outside the box whilst Bournemouth looked for that second goal, but it just didn’t arrive. 

Pacey forward Taylor Webb often caused the Portland backline problems and went close in the 81st minute. James Bergin saw his 20 yard free kick parried by Ennals whilst in the latter stages of the game the Bournemouth defence held firm under pressure to secure the win, 3 points and a first clean sheet for since August. 

Bournemouth – Jakub Lewiarz, Jake Perch, Billy Mcdermott,  Kian Bright, Joe White, Daniel Viner, Jake Terry, Tom Beckett, Jamie Booth, Dan Hayward, Taylor Webb

Substitutions – James Bergin for Jamie Booth (52), Tommy White for Kian Bright (60), Ellis Cousens for Dan Hayward (75), Jahrel Campbell for Taylor Webb (80)

Photo – Billy Mcdermott scoring his first goal for Bournemouth Sports