A chilly but clear evening found me driving through Weymouth and beyond, for a first visit to the Isle of Portland to watch a Dorset Premier League fixture between Portland United Reserves and Westland Sports FC.

The New Grove Corner ground sits on a quiet road leading another half mile towards Portland prison. The ground has a clubhouse, shop, tea bar and two covered grandstands. The pitch was grass and in good condition and the ground is well lit with eight modern floodlights.

Portland United Reserves FC came into the game in tenth place with five wins, a draw and four defeats in their ten games. Goals this season have come from Troy Wallbridge (9 goals), Joshua Tennant (5 goals) and Sanchez Janz-Baker (3 goals). Manager Stuart Beddingfield was hoping his team could overturn the form book and get three points against the visitors tonight.

Westland Sports FC, who hail from Yeovil in Somerset, arrived at Portland United Reserves full of confidence, coming into the game in fifth place, with seven wins, a draw and just three defeats from their opening eleven games. Goals for manager Greg Taylor, have flowed from Philip Ormrod (10 goals), Jamie Thompson (7 goals) and Steve Ormrod (4 goals).

After an even opening twenty minutes, Westland Sports had a chance to take the lead on 22 minutes when a rash tackle in the box led to a penalty. Portland United Reserves’ Alfie Watts pulled off a great save, to keep the scores tied at 0-0.

In the 36th minute Portland took the iniative to go one – nil ahead. David Bowmaster receiving a great pass from Tom Peach, found himself alone in front of goal and was able to tap the ball home to give his side the lead.

In the 43rd minute Westland Sports FC were down to ten men. A penalty shout was turned down and one of the Westland Sports FC players at first was sin binned for arguing and then shown a straight red, for abusive comments to the referee. At the half time break the sides went in with Portland United Reserves leading by a solitary goal.

In the 50th minute Portland United Reserves were two ahead. Ryan McKechnie struck the ball from the edge of the area, after some scrappy play, to see his shot deflected high and wide of the Westland Sports’ keeper.

Two minutes later Westland Sports were down to nine men. The centre half (5) pulled down a Portland United Reserves player when through on goal. In the 53rd minute it was 3-0 with Josh Camp using the space from the extra two men, to fire home.

On 57 minutes the home side stretched the lead to 4-0 when Ryan McKechnie shot from twenty yards to score his second goal of the night.

In the 58th minute it was 5-0 with a beautifully struck free kick giving David Bowmaster his second goal of the night.

The remainder of the game saw the visitors rally and hold the youthful substitutes, made from the Portland United Reserves’ bench, at bay. At full time the score remained at 5-0, with the visitors regretting the indiscipline that surely influenced the outcome tonight.