PORTLAND United staged what manager Gary Bailey described as a “magnificent” second-half comeback to see off Horndean 4-1 at Grove Corner on Saturday.

Trailing to a Jack Maloney penalty at the break, the Islanders summoned up a sensational 45 minutes of football to record their 22nd win of the Sydenhams Premier Division campaign - Darren Watts and Ryan McKechnie bagging a brace apiece.

Bailey, whose third-placed side are 11 points behind leaders Moneyfields with two games in hand, enthused: “Our response in the second half was magnificent.

“We got our sleeves rolled up and matched them for tenacity and started winning our second-ball battles.

“It was a great response from the lads. Confidence is high and they don’t know when they’re beaten.

“We challenged them at half-time to raise their game, not that they were miles off it, and they lifted things and responded magnificently.”

Bailey added: “As soon as we got a goal back I could just see our eyes lit up and I fancied us.

“We could have just said ‘oh well, it wasn’t our day’ but the dressing room is in such a mindset at the moment that they just don’t want to relinquish it.”

Next up for Portland is a trip to AFC Portchester this Saturday.