Shaftesbury destroy promotion dreams for Royals
By Connor Steel
AFC PORTCHESTER must contest another league campaign in the Wessex Premier as they sadly slipped to a narrow defeat versus rivals Shaftesbury in the end of season play-offs; eventually losing by one-nil to a late goal after this very ‘tight and nervy’ encounter in front of a massive crowd featuring three hundred supporters at Cockrams on Wednesday.
It was a nervous start for both sides as proceedings quickly settled into a midfield battle that no-one wanted to lose; the magitude of this occassion playing a part and nobody feeling confident in taking a forward risk. The first notable chance did fall for Portchester after fifteen minutes when Josh Benfield and Harrison Brook linked up; the former slashing wide.
A couple of set pieces were easily cleared by the Shaftesbury back-line and this seemed to give them more confidence overall; the hosts creating their first opening on twenty-seven minutes as Brett Pitman’s fierce shot went wide. This was followed up with the away keeper Steven Mowthorpe comfortably catching the striker’s effort before the half hour mark.
Some niggly fouls didn’t help the limited amount of goalmouth action as both teams had spells of possessions and they tried to attack through the lines; but ulimately couldn’t find the final pass against organised defences. That was until the 43rd minute when Pitman was threaded through on goal at an angle but was denied brilliantly to end the first half nil-nil.
Dave Carter’s team came out brightly and had another opportunity within fifty seconds of the restart; Archie Wilcox duly heading James Cowan’s free kick wide of goal. The attacker was furthermore part of another set-piece move moments later that caused a minor panic and goalmouth scramble in the box as a drive was blocked, before being cleared away.
Proceedings reached the hour with no further action but a rare mistake from Cameron Beard allowed Brook a shot that was quickly saved by Shane Murphy; the Shaftesbury keeper dening an effort from Wilcox on the sixty-seventh minute. Substutitions then followed for the teams in an attempt to break the deadlock; which led to a lull in the tie’s momentum.
Shaftesbury did take advantage of an attack with minutes left to play as a long pass fell to the attacker who was fouled down in the box; Brett Pitman slamming home the spot-kick past Mowthorpe for one-nil. And this is how it stayed at the final whistle despite efforts for Marley Ridge and Harvey Hughes in added time, which was both well denied by Murphy.
Despite the heartbreaking defeat Portchester can still end their 2023-24 campaign with silverware as they play Hamble Club in the Wessex League Cup final over the Bank Holiday weekend. They will also play AFC Totton in the Hampshire Senior Cup final on May 10, which will played from the home of Aldershot Town to conclude this long and tiring season.
PICTURED BY NATHAN LIPSHAM: The sides face off at Cockrams early this spring, with the hosts again winning 1-0.
