Seven heaven as Portchester thrash shocked Cowes
By Connor Steel
AFC PORTCHESTER maintained their perfect record to the new 2024-25 campaign as they out-classed Cowes Sports on Tuesday evening; the Royals simply trashing their Isle of Wight opponents seven-one following a brilliant and highly clinical attacking performance enjoyed by a huge crowd under cool post-heatwave skies at the On-Site Group Stadium.
The hosts started brilliantly and took an early lead within four minutes through Ryan Pennery, who latched onto a great bouncing corner from the right and slotted into the net at close range. This goal seemed to stun Cowes and the Royals pushed to capitalise as Charlie Williamson was denied by a diving Ed Hatt whilst James Cowan dragged just off target.
Liam Trigg headed over the crossbar on sixteen minutes from a Cowes corner and the visitors were trying hard to build possession from their defensive third, which ultimately led to Portchester’s second goal. This came as a loose ball was intercepted and fed into the feet of Pennery; the striker making no mistake in lobbing the goalkeeper from twenty yards.
It was three-nil after thirty-seven minutes when a cross was caught by Hatt and fell to the ground after challenging with Connor Duffin, who tapped the ball home as it rolled out. At their credit Cowes did not ‘drop their heads’ as they looked to respond before the half time break; Charlie Marsek and Triggs going close with various shots in a four minute period.
Home dominance continued into the second half and this score was soon four-nil as Pennery ran down the left wing at pace before linking in Duffin, who got the second of this evening through a volleyed finish. Both teams then exchanged chances as Marley Ridge’s effort was saved and Jimmy Mumsford’s header was deflected away before the hour mark.
A fifth goal arrived on 64 minutes when incisive passing landed kindly to Ridge and the attacker took one brilliant touch to beat his marker, before he drilled into the right corner past Hatt. This killed the game off as a real contest and a sixth soon followed for Portchester after multiple substitutions; George Barker firing into the bottom corner from a tight angle.
Cowes eventually gained their “reward” as they were awarded a penalty after a tackle involving the home keeper which was nestled home into the corner by Jake Wright to make it 6-1. The goalscoring was finished in the dying moments as Portchester scored their seventh of the night, which came from Harvey Hughes with his sublime finish to end the game.
These three points mean that Portchester sit in second in the Wessex League standings at the time of writing, although they have only played a handful of games so far this season. However attentions now turn to cup competitions with two massive encounters versus Westbury United (FA Cup) on Saturday and Baffins Milton Rovers (FA Vase) next weekend.
PICTURED BY NATHAN LIPSHAM: Connor Duffin prepares to convert Portchester’s third goal in their brilliant evening.
