Royals clinch treble with Stoneham success
By Connor Steel
AFC PORTCHESTER clinched another trophy for their ever-growing cabinet as they travelled to AFC Stoneham in this Russell-Cotes Benevolent Cup Final on Thursday night (May 8); comfortably achieving a three-one victory versus their league rivals following a tightly-fought display throughout the game in front of a loud gate at ‘Stoneham Lane Complex’.
The visitors started quickly and took an early lead within seven minutes when Spencer Spurway’s cut-back was met by Marley Ride, who lashed into the net from ten yards off the crossbar. Stoneham should have levelled moments later as the ball was flicked precisely into the feet of Lewis Nagle and the winger sliced towards goal; the effort drifting just over.
Portchester overcame this scare and and nearly made it two-nil in the twenty-third minute when James Cowan’s curled free-kick fell kindly into Lee Wort, whose drive on the turn was gathered by Lee Webber. But the home goalkeeper was unable to stop their second finish merely 2 minutes later as Josh Clack’s drive beat him for pace to make the score 2-0.
Proceedings passed the half hour mark without any further incident as the away team dominated the ball, which almost helped them score a third goal on 36 minutes with Clack’s attempt flashing the crossbar via the left. The hosts did push for a goal before the interval to little success as the Royals’ defences was rapid to clear several corners and set pieces.
Gav Spurway’s side came out brilliantly upon the restart and made it three-nil within twenty-five seconds of the second half as Wort’s attempt was saved by Webber; but Ridge was alert to slot inside this empty net from six yards. This was however followed by a lull with Stoneham seemingly shocked and their immediate plan derailed by the Royals’ strikers.
Stoneham went closer to reducing their deficits on sixty-three minutes as Nagle was found in a pocket of space and he dragged just wide with his first time attempt from eighteen yards. Meanwhile Portchester were still proving a threat and saw another huge chance through Ride, who fired over the crossbar following brilliant passing from his two teammates.
Substitutions were made across both benches going into the last fifteen minutes and this appeared to spark some later pressure from Stoneham; Owen Fee slicing a shot wide under pressure after controlling a cross. And the hosts did net a goal on eighty-nine minutes through Ash Pope’s calm finish; but it was far too little, too late as the Royals won calmly.
Success means that the Royals have added this competition to the Wessex Premier Division and Wessex League Cup in a sublime treble; such is their apparent dominances at step 5 level of local non-league football. And they have a real opportunity to win a rare quadruple as they contest the ‘Portsmouth Senior Cup Final’ against Moneyfields later in May.
PICTURED BY ROBIN CADDY: Marley Ridge scores his first goal in 7 minutes of Russell-Cotes Benevolent Cup Final.
