Portishead Town 4 Windsor & Eton 3

By Matt Gillett / 3rd August

The Magic of the Cup indeed, no shortage of entertainment as Portishead Town beat Combined Counties League side Windsor & Eton 4-3 in the FA Cup.

Portishead included 5 new signings – Mason Winter, Aaron Robbins, Jamie Adams, Jordan Scadding and Jack Thorne – in their starting line-up.  And Thorne gave Posset the perfect 3rd minute start. Mitch Osmond’s clever ball found right back Winter bursting into the area, from his cross Ethan Feltham’s header dropped for Thorne to finish low off the post. Then Winter’s 8th minute cross field ball found Robbins overlapping wide left. Thorne chested his centre, swivelled smartly and volleyed over.

But the visitors, high scoring champions of their division last season, were no pushovers and levelled after 11 minutes. W&E broke long and Pawel Kowalkowski finished past Posset keeper Ryan Thacker. Thacker in fact put in an excellent display against a team always carrying danger. The keeper was called on several times to punch clear under pressure, made a number of saves low down and dived bravely to thwart an onrushing forward.

Portishead restored their lead on 26 minutes, Winter again the provider. His superb ball released Feltham on the right edge of the box and the free scoring No.9 lobbed the keeper. Posset, characteristically pressing high, enjoyed a spell of sustained pressure. Meanwhile at the other end Hamish Hurst did well to block a powerful shot with his head maintaining the 2-1 score at the break.

After a positive start to the second half W&E levelled with a 48th minute penalty as Thacker was adjudged to have fouled coming for a cross, Kowalkowski confidently converting. On 53 minutes Posset brought on Lucas Vowles to add his physical presence up front. Within a minute Feltham broke left and chasing the ball down finished well to make it 3-2. With Vowles providing a focal point, Jay Murray and Feltham stretching W&E out wide and Thorne just behind, Portishead moved the ball quickly opening space for more efforts on goal. Hurst’s 68th minute lofted clearance saw Thorne break away right, outmuscle his defender and cross for Feltham to complete his hat-trick, 4-2.

Posset added Toby Lawrence’s steadiness in support of Hurst and Sean Keet at the back but W&E weren’t quite done. With 86 minutes on the clock, they worked a corner to Ross McKernan who made it 4-3. Still time for near misses at each end in added time but it was Posset through to host Slimbridge in the next round.

A good day’s work from Portishead, full of energy and sweeping play, as new signings combined well with the double winning players. Thoughts turn now to next Saturday’s league opener.

Thanks to Ollie Riddoch Photography for all the photographs seen here.