Super sub Blankson nets four goals as ‘ruthless’ Baffins ensure a very happy birthday for boss Wilkinson

The club’s record top flight Wessex League victory was the perfect 39th birthday present for manager Shaun Wilkinson.

'It is nice when it all comes together,' he said after Rudi Blankson had leapt off the bench in the second half to net four times against a Dorset club missing a clutch of first team regulars, including four defenders..

'We know what this group of players are capable of and told them beforehand to go out and express themselves, enjoying the ball and the pitch.

'From first whistle to the last we were excellent and Portland couldn't live with us.

'We were ruthless and it was a real squad effort.

'Our fitness levels, work-rate and quality proved too much for Portland.

'We won't get too carried away, though, because it is still early in the season.

'I am happy that we have taken seven points from nine but there is still plenty to work on.'

Tommy Scutt started the rout with a first half hat-trick in 28 minutes, only to be upstaged by Blankson who came on just before the hour and whose haul included a nine-minute treble.

With Nathan Kirby and Dale Mason unable to shake off midweek knocks, Billy Connor and Charlie Osborne were given starts in an otherwise unchanged line up to the one that started Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Hamble.

Rovers started well and in the opening 15 minutes Tyler Moret was only denied by the legs of visiting keeper Josh Lucas.

However, there was nothing Lucas could do to stop Scutt opening the scoring in the 17th minute, when the midfielder fired home after the visitors had twice blocked efforts.

Scutt doubled the lead in the 31st minute when the ball was played wide to Moret whose cut back was sweetly volleyed home by the midfielder.

On the stroke of half-time Callum Dart broke down the left and played the ball back inside to Scott, who side-stepped his marker before firing home.

The opening stages of the second period saw the visitors change shape and rally from an obvious half-time roasting, but found the Baffins rearguard too tough to breakdown.

The impressive James Cowan scored Baffins’ fourth with a fine solo effort; having received the ball in his own half, he burst forward and let fly with a 30-yards plus effort that left Lucas looking like a statue.

Baffins conceded a penalty just on the hour and, though goalkeeper Charlie Searle saved Ryan McKechnie’s spot-kick, Eder Batista scored from the rebound.

Blankson started his second half goal feast in the 69th minute, converting a Charlie Williamson cross.

Eight minutes later Blankson had his second and Rovers’ sixth when he finished off after being slipped through by Cowan.

Blankson completed his hat-trick, firing past Lucas from inside the area, and notched his fourth four minutes from time.

He is now already halfway towards equalling his Wessex Premier tally from 2019/20, when his eight-goal haul saw him finish as the club’s top league scorer - one above Dart and Jason Parish.

Baffins’ previous highest Wessex top flight victory had been 5-0, on a handful of occasions.

The club’s record Wessex victory remains the 9-0 hiding they handed out to Andover New Street in only their fourth ever Division 1 game in August 2016.

The weekend win also avenged Baffins’ record Wessex League home loss - a 6-0 thrashing by Portland in October 2017.

Baffins: Searle; Williamson, Miller, Sharp (Emeny, 74), Warren, Osborne, Scutt (Burgess, 69), Cowan, Moret (Blankson, 59), Dart, Connor.