A MAD seven minutes saw Amesbury Town capitulate at runaway leaders Portland United in Sydenhams Wessex Division One.

Three goals from Carl McClements, Alex Godfrey and Ross Carmichael gave the Blues a mountain to climb in the table-topping showdown.

Danny Finnigan hit one back early in the second half but, despite pressing for a second, the Blues succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at Grove Corner.

The home team opened their account on 28 minutes.

Portland’s Godfrey crossed deep into the Amesbury six-yard box, allowing Ryan McKechnie to pull the ball back for McClements, who tucked home the opener.

Two minutes later, Carl Morris won the ball in midfield and played in Godfrey, who applied a sharp finish to drill the ball into the bottom corner and make it 2-0.

And an Alex Halloran corner on 35 minutes then allowed Ross Carmichael to apply a bullet header, which flew into the roof of the net to cap off a devastating spell for the hosts.

The visitors needed an urgent response in the second period and were handed a lifeline when a Connor Palmer cross was headed by Josh Thomas which was parried by Sean Lillington and Finnigan was on hand to tuck home.

Thomas tried his luck again along with Finnigan, but neither found the net.