Portishead Town 3 Winchester City 2
By Matt Gillett / 22nd November
In this clash of the titans, 1st versus 2nd, Portishead Town edged it 3-2 against a very good Winchester City. On a rainy afternoon the sides served up a wonderful advert for the Southern League.
Only goal difference separated the teams at kick-off. Portishead pushed forward in the early skirmishes, Mitch Osmond and Jamie Adams getting in shots after good build-ups. Meanwhile, Winchester broke with speed both Hamish Hurst and Ollie Woodhouse making important defensive interventions, as the defensive pair did throughout.
Posset pressed high not giving Winchester a second’s peace, then creating excellent attacking moves when in possession. After 19 minutes Ethan Feltham’s pressure on the visiting defender resulted in the ball reaching Jack Thorne, his shot blocked close in. A minute later Hurst played out from the back finding Jay Murray, again in uncontainable form. His perfectly weighted pass sent Feltham clear, the centre forward accelerated past the keeper before rolling the ball in. Feltham’s 99th goal in 100 Portishead games – an astonishing scorecard by any measure.
On 34 minutes Kyle Egan’s free-kick was cleared to Tom Llewellyn on the edge of the area, as the ball stood up he got a great connection with a shot the keeper couldn’t hold, 2-0. Two minutes more and 3-0. Winchester couldn’t defend another set-piece into the box, the loose ball reached Hurst who fired in low. An excellent 45thminute Ryan Thacker save rounded off an outstanding first-half display by Portishead.
Winchester hadn’t gone nine games unbeaten for nothing so, as expected, they tried to force a way back in the second-half. Thacker made a 50th minute save, Adams a good tackle and Hurst’s last ditch 55th minute interception was followed by another Thacker stop. But the visitors weren’t to be denied, Dan Bradshaw finishing well on 60 minutes. Two minutes later after a Posset defensive mix-up it was 3-2, Brad Waters scoring, and Winchester suddenly believed.
Portishead have character in abundance, prepared to suffer without the ball, chasing down and supporting each other all over the field. Much to enthuse about – Osmond and Llewellyn tackling like demons, Aron Robbins steadying in defence, Thacker decisive in claiming crosses and Woodhouse repeatedly clearing his lines. Feltham fought for everything, winning crucial fouls to ease the pressure and tackling back in his own box, substitute Lucas Vowles provided an outlet up front. And Egan, in the midst of the frenzy, making crucial time and space on the ball.
A colossal effort by Portishead that over the 90+ minutes had everything – scintillating first half attacking play, excellent finishing, then stupendous work rate and resolve as they strained every sinew to take the win. Posset three points clear at the top after a thriller.
