8:34am Monday 25th August 2008
By Ky Capel
PORTLAND UTD 6
HAMWORTHY UTD RES 0
A HAT-TRICK from Adam Linaker saw Portland start the defence of their Dorset Premier League title with victory over Hamworthy United Reserves.
The 6-0 win at Grove Corner also avenged last season's opening day defeat at the hands of the Hammers - Portland's only loss of the entire league campaign.
Blues' boss Dave Kiteley was understandably satisfied following Saturday's curtain-raiser. He said: "On the first the day of the season, on a decent surface, I thought we were superb.
"We played some tremendous football and scored some good goals, goals that would have graced any game purely because of the one-touch football and the movement. Overall in the last third we were outstanding.
"Adam was trying to do too much in pre-season. I just wanted him to do his job in the last third and he and Lewis Whyton did that.
"At the back we were outstanding as well and that was all after we started a bit sluggish. Hamworthy weren't a bad side it's just that in the last third we were outstanding."
After withstanding some early pressure from the visitors, Portland opened the scoring in the tenth minute with an excellent move. Warren Boyt's goal kick was headed by Lewis Whyton straight to Alex Halloran who flicked on for Linaker.
The Blues' forward attacked the opposition defence before playing a neat one-two with Halloran and then beating Hammers' keeper Mark Trevor at his near post with a low drive.
Portland began to take control and saw another well-worked move end with visiting defender Greg Horlock blocking a shot from Halloran near his own goal line.
Just past the midway point of the half, Trevor saved well at his near post from Halloran's volley.
Then, on 27 minutes, the islanders got their noses further in front with Linaker's second. Good build up play led to Halloran unselfishly setting up Linaker to put the ball into an empty net.
Matt Jones went close as Portland searched for a third, and it soon came.
Jones raced through the Hamworthy defence and managed to flick the ball over Trevor as he burst out of goal. The midfielder got to the loose ball first and teed up Linaker for his treble.
Four minutes into the second half and it was four. Halloran unleashed a fierce drive with his left foot that Trevor's outstretched hand could not reach.
The Hammers' keeper though, did keep out Whyton's close range effort following Linaker's centre.
Mike Wynne should have forced Boyt into a save while at the other end Trevor had to tip a Lamb corner onto the bar late on.
Shane Whalley summed up Hamworthy's miserable afternoon by missing an open goal.
And the misery continued with three minutes to go when Whyton found Ross Doidge and he pinged a shot straight into the top corner.
In the final minute an inswinging Lamb corner beat Trevor and just crossed the goal-line despite Mark Seal's efforts to clear.
Blues: Boyt, Doidge, Lamb, Cranny, Anstey, Litherland, Marshallsay, Jones (Sharpe 75), Whyton, Linaker (B Simmonds 84), Halloran (Gay 75). Sub not used: Dailey.
Attendance: 103
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisisdorset.net