Interim manager Marty Wallace heaps praise on AFC Portchester as Lee Wort's hat-trick makes it perfect return to action at Bournemouth Poppies

Lee Wort struck a hat-trick - taking his tally to 11 goals in 14 matches this term - to continue Wallace's perfect start to life as the Royals' interim manager.

The caretaker boss has guided Portchester to 3-0 victories over both Blackfield & Langley and Bournemouth in his two matches in charge since taking the reigns after Mick Catlin's sacking in October.

Incredibly, those matches were split over more than a month because of the four week 'non-elite' football suspension.

And Wallace gave great credit to his players for picking up where they left off before the lockdown on what could have proved a tricky trip.

‘The conditions were tough, cold and a bit damp under foot,’ said the Royals' interim manager.

‘You never take anything for granted when you come down here but the lads played really well.

‘Bournemouth is always a tough place to go.

‘In the end it was comfortable and it’s a good place to be when it could have had aix or seven quite comfortably.

‘But, as a defender myself, it’s even more pleasing to not concede any and have a clean sheet to take home.

‘It would have been easy to have forgotten the feelgood factor and momentum that we built up.

‘The lads will have been of real benefit to get 90 minutes in the legs. You can’t replicate that sort of intensity in training.'

Great work from former Pompey youth product Oscar Johnston saw him beat two players before superbly slotting in Wort who fired the visitors ahead on 32 minutes.

The Royals' leading scorer hit his 10th of the campaign seven minutes later before rounding the scoring off minutes from the end.The win helped Portchester climb a place to eighth in the table and Wallace is now relishing the chance to take on leaders Hamworthy this weekend.

‘I’m really chuffed with the lads. They’ve taken all of the directions and ideas that we’ve been giving them and really executed it.

‘What better test than to take the league leaders on Saturday.’