Royals clinch last-gasp Hartley Wintney away win
By Connor Steel
AFC PORTCHESTER extended this unbeaten start to eight matches in the Isthmian League South Central as they travelled to Hartley Wintney for their latest tie on Saturday afternoon (October 3); eventually earning an one-nil win following a hard-fought 90 minutes before a late goal was netted in front of 278 fans at the Memorial Playing Fields.
It was a steady start under overcast skies with Hartley creating this first notable opportunity through Danilo Pereira, whose cross turned into the effort that was caught by Kieran Magee under pressures. Lewis Parker was booked for fouls after eight minutes as the early stages seemed to drift into the midfield battle that neither team wanted to lose.
Pereira fired harmlessly over this bar after nineteen minutes before Portchester settled down any home momentum; Alfie Stanley driving off-target from Jason Prior’s ball and Lee Wort just missing a fine delivery with their goalkeeper looming. Hartley were still threatening however and had Kevin Ngombi break into space, but was fouled for a yellow.
Both sides saw spells of neat possession as proceedings passed the thirty-minute mark without further incident; this pattern breaking up when injury forced Logan Coles off this pitch. But this didn’t stop Hartley from creating their best chance to end an even first half when Pereira saw a drive blocked, before Nick Medcraft had a shot saved down low.
Portchester came out brightly upon the second half as Brendon Haunstrup and Spencer Spurway exchanged a pass from a free kick before a shot by the latter was blasted over the crossbar. This was followed by another away chance as a free kick was whipped across the penalty box and was met by Prior who could only head into the keeper’s hand.
Set pieces continued to cause problems for Hartley as Chad Field and Prior could not convert a low cross across the box, whilst a corner was nodded over from the tight angle just after the hour mark. In response the hosts saw penalty appeals turned down by the referee and George Winser was allowed a space to turn, but only fired straight at Magee.
Substitutions followed entering into this last twenty minutes with the Royals going close through both Destiny Ojo and Haunstrup in rapid succession, whilst Joe Dyett was unlucky not to score down the other end. It looked like the match was going to end goalless until stoppage time which saw Tommy Scutt fire home a recycled pass to seal an away win.
Their three points mean that Portchester remain second place in the current standing with four wins and four draws; a streak that includes multiple clean sheets for their excellent defence. Their next clash will see them play Ashford Town (Middx) at the AEI Stadium in Gosport next Saturday afternoon before they play Egham Town FC away on October 17.
PICTURED BY AFC PORTCHESTER MEDIA: Overcast skies and a bobbly surface awaits the two teams on Saturday.
