WHITCHURCH United Carl Bennett was delighted with his side's 1-1 draw at Wessex League Premier Division title chasing Portland United.

The Jam Boys were missing a number of players, which reduced them to the bare 11, but the players who came in do the boss proud.

Bennett said: "This is tough place to go and play with the weather conditions and not many teams will take a point from there so I am very pleased.

"We played with the wind in the first half and kept over hitting the ball and in the second half we had the wind against us.

"It was great to see that despite us going behind ,we kept going dug in and got the draw. Their manager refused to shake my hand at the end of the game and his comments after it, about us being a poor side hit a nerve.

"It we had a full squad we would have been a lot stronger and our goalkeeper Ellis Grant has made some good stops, but we had chances as well and their goal was very lucky."

In the first 45 minutes, Whitchurch's best chances fell to Babucarr Bojang as he forced a good save from the home goalie and also hit the post.

After the break, Andre Manders forced another good save, before Portland took the lead, as a wind assisted free-kick from wide on the right found its way into the net at the back post.

However, Whitchurch hit back and Sam Floyd took a long ball in the channel.

The goalkeeper came rushing out and from an acute angle the visiting player scored with five minutes left.

The home side then threw everything at the visitors and Sam McCarthy and Damian Hack made goal line clearance to make sure it stayed 1-1.

Whitchurch travel to Amesbury on Saturday in the league and owe them for two defeats earlier in the season. Bennett is expecting a good game.

Then on Tuesday night, the Jam Boys travel to Fleet Town for their Russell Cotes Cup tie.