Portland 0-0 Freshfield 2nd XI
15th September 2002

The sun shone brightly on Bedford Park as Freshfield Reserves gained their second point of the season with a 0-0 draw against Portland. In a match where neither team played exceptionally well, there were still excellent performances from a number of Freshfield players which can only be encouraging for the games to come. Although Freshfield threatened the opposition goal early on they couldn't break down the tight Portland defence. Midway through the first half Mark Wynne did well to stretch the right flank of Portland laying a ball for Tony Lynch to run through to on goal but the attempt lacked some precision and he fired wide. The Freshfield back four saw some great defending from the Rooneys (namely Stephen and captain Graeme), and from midfielders Dave Hodges and Billy Brown who all did very well to stop the Portland front men from scoring.

Midway into the first half a well delivered Portland corner saw the ball land at the feet of keeper Dave Seville who could only smother the ball with his legs. He soon after had to be substituted with an injury from that incident and Steve "Beefy" Dwyer deputised. Lee Whittingham filled in for Dwyer up front but had himself to be substituted in the second half with an injury. Dwyer's performance in the second half was magnificent as Portland pressed the Freshfield goal. The visitors breathed a sigh of relief when a pinpoint Portland cross and header looked goalbound until Dwyer scrambled across the goalmouth excellently to palm the ball wide. He repeatedly made brilliant saves from the Portland front men and surely deserved the man of the match. Freshfield substitutions did their best to break the deadlock with countless half chances but to no avail. Portland also had numerous opportunities towards the end to take the points, hitting the post and again putting Dwyer into action with some great saves.

Not an oustanding performance from Graeme Rooney's men but solid performances all round can only be encouraging for the future games to come as he continues to strengthen a new side.