Tadley take on the leaders

TADLEY CALLEVA have the perfect incentive to return to league form when they tackle Wessex League Division One leaders Portland United at Barlows Park on Saturday.

Since losing at Romsey on August 15, Portland have reeled off four straight league wins, including a 4-0 thumping of US Portsmouth on their own turf, while Tadley have yet to show the league form that kept them in the promotion race to the end of last term.

“But we played well at Downton last week,” said manager Danny Dolan, “and it’s a question of taking our chances. We had around 20 goal attempts to their three.”

Those included a penalty save to deny Mario Nurse as Tadley lost to a late winner and now find themselves 11 points behind the leaders, having played two fewer games.