DORSET PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 7TH MARCH 2026
VERWOOD TOWN 1 PORTLAND UNITED RESERVES 2

First half belonged to Portland. The second to Verwood. A typical game of two halves.

In the first ten minutes both teams forced corners all of which were cleared from respective areas. Football quality was poor.

Both keepers had a lot to do but not a lot causing concern.

25 minutes a topped shot in the PU box was collected by the keeper and a launch put the ball over our midfield. The Lone Ranger wasn’t covered so a clean run on goal made it a one on one. A low shot on the edge of the 6 yard box was parried by Knibbs but the ball cannoned back off the runner making it 0-1.

Portland piled on the pressure to the whistle but we survived their attacks most notably handled by Knibbs Pope and Danvers.

Half Time. 0-1

Our poor display in the first half hadn’t been cured when we kicked off so with only 1 minute 29 seconds gone a long ball landed on the edge of our area. The Lone Ranger appeared again. No challenge resulted in a score line of 0-2.

It created an adrenalin surge. PU needed to pull back players to flood the box as we pressed. Second balls were now ours and with 6 minutes gone we were awarded a free kick in PU’s third. Kerr latched on to a half clearance and made it 1-2.

A high percentage of possession was now ours. We pushed on. PU defended deep using a no nonsense approach to clearing danger.

Barton and Ionut made way for Knott and Buggey half way through the half introducing fresh legs and a bit more pace into our pressure on PU’s defence.

It looked like the Alamo, but Portlands defenders did remarkably well surviving. Two shots kicked off the line. Several superb saves by the keeper and blocking numerous corners from finishing up in the net.

52 gone and the whistle went on a very disappointed Verwood and a deliriously happy Portland United.

Result 1-2