Royals maintain perfect start in Portland victory
By Connor Steel
AFC PORTCHESTER marked their return to league action as they made a lengthy visit to Portland United on Saturday afternoon; clinching a comprehensive three-nil victory after the brilliant attacking performance at the Camp & Satherley Stadium as they continued their perfect start to this 2024-25 campaign under overcast grey skies throughout the game.
The visitors made a bright start and created their first opening within seven minutes as Ryan Pennery collected a deep ball through on goal, but saw his lobbed effort saved by Harrison Bruton. It was soon followed by a succession of good corners for Portchester as they saw both Connor Duffin and Archie Wilcox well denied before play reached 15 minutes.
Portland weathered the pressure despite a yellow for Josh Williams and worked themselves up the pitch with a chance falling to Freddie Beale, who met a cross at the back stick but saw his drive deflected away. And the Royals did punish the missed opportunity on 26 minutes when Jamie Horncastle slotted in an outstanding ball by James Cowan in space.
Josh Camp attempted to secure a huge immediate response as he intercepted the away keeper’s bad pass but saw a shot saved from an angle; the striker being denied again with a great effort behind the defence. Patrick Jenkins further went close on forty-three minutes as he blazed harmlessly over before the interval; which came after an away booking.
Gav Spurway’s team appeared to regain their earlier composure as the second half began with a series of corners into the occasional gust of wind; one being nodded off the line and one well tipped over the crossbar by Bruton. The strong home frustration was brewing after a ‘failed’ counter attack and it was evident when Jack Delves was booked for a foul.
The hour mark passed before Portchester doubled the lead in the sixty-third minute following incisive passing between Duffin and Pennery just outside the box; the former curling into the goal from eighteen yards out. It may have been 3-0 moments later when Cowan fizzed a shot just over the bar, an attempt that preceded a flurry of changes for both sides.
Away momentum however extended into late exchanges with both Marley Ridge and Pennery going close with various shots; whilst Beale and Camp saw an effort over down the other end in response. Another goal was coming and it duly arrived in added time for the visitors as Pennery followed up an initial effort; slotting into the right corner to seal the win.
These three points mean that Portchester sit in second behind Fareham in the Wessex Premier table, but have played two less games than their rivals and remain one of two teams with 100% records to date. The Royals will next travel to Baffins Milton Rovers on Tuesday night who have the other ‘perfect streak’ and won 6-2 in a recent FA Vase encounter.
PICTURED BY NATHAN LIPSHAM: Players from both outfits ‘face’ against each other in league game held in January.
