BLUES' assistant manager Brendan King was disappointed with his side's performance at the County Ground even though the draw secured them third-place.

The islanders dominated for long periods in this Dorset Premier League clash but they lacked the cutting edge in the final third to turn their superiority into goals.

In fact, it was the Hammers who opened the scoring through Paul Manning. Lewis Whyton then levelled prior to the break before visiting stopper Paul Gadsby made a fine save late in the second half to ensure the score remained level.

King said: "We dominated and could have battered them but in the end it just was not good enough.

"We had lots of possession but we kept picking the wrong pass again and we did not really make their keeper work even though, believe it or not, we had more chances than in our 7-1 win against Bridport Reserves on Tuesday night."

The Blues will take on Hamworthy Recreation in the final of the Dorset Premier League Cup on Thursday and King admitted this poor display was not good preparation.

He added: "Looking at the performance you would not have thought we had a cup final ahead of us. Instead it looked like an end of season game with nothing riding on it.

"It was a chance for people to stake a claim for the final and there is no excuses. We are a fit and young side and we should have done better.

"All we can do now is try and pick the lads up in training on Tuesday and take things from there. Lloyd Cranny did not come through the session on Thursday and is looking very doubtful now for the final and Ben Simmonds had to come off with a slight groin problem after 50 minutes.

"We shall have to see how he is over the next couple of days."

Ross Doidge, John Lamb and Matt White were all guilty of missing good chances for United in the first half but Whyton's leveller was a fine finish. The blonde-haired forward latched on to a long ball out of defence and produced a fine lob over the on-rushing keeper.

Portland kept the ball well in patches but they lacked an end product although White did have an effort tipped over the bar. Ryan Middleton also went close.

Blues: Gadsby, Simmonds (Thoday 50mins), Ansty, Perkins, Reader, Lamb (Linaker 85mins), Litherland, Middleton, Doidge, Whyton, White. Sub not used: Mutch.