Willand Rovers 0 Portishead Town 0

Match Report by Matt Gillett / 10th January

Despite knocking on the door for much of the game Portishead Town drew a blank at Willand Rovers. The relegation haunted hosts defended for dear life as the game ended 0-0.

A single change for Portishead with Jack Thorne starting in place of Lucas Vowles. Willand, 19th in the table and three points from safety, hit some early testing high balls well dealt with by Hamish Hurst and Ollie Woodhouse at the heart of Posset’s defence.

Portishead soon threatened though with their speedy attack causing problems. Jay Murray, operating behind the front two of Thorne and Ethan Feltham, beating defenders at will. In the 14th minute Murray’s shot was cleared off the line after excellent work by Thorne. Then on 21 minutes, after Willand pressed at one end, Posset’s lightning break ended with Thorne heading Murray’s cross just over.

A 32nd minute Hurst long throw reached Murray, his cross was helped on by Thorne and Aron Robbins headed over. As Posset pressed Willand keeper Ashby-Hammond saved well from Murray, then Thorne came close and only a last gasp tackle dispossessed Feltham in the box. Apart from holding an early curling effort from Willand’s Bailey Kempster, Posset keeper Ryan Thacker was largely a spectator as it remained goalless at half-time.

A 47th minute offside decision chalked out Thorne’s header from Mitch Osmond’s long free-kick. With midfielders Osmond, Tom Llewellyn and Callum Eastwood driving forward Willand were pushed deep. The contest was full blooded and feisty, and none the worse for that. Marshalled by the hugely experienced Josh Ford, the Willand defence was holding on with both Robbins and Eastwood having efforts blocked.  

Jamie Adams 73rd minute cross was headed on by Robbins to Feltham; he turned well but fired over. Robbins was involved again on 79 minutes, stabbing over from a goalmouth melee after another Osmond free-kick into the box. Willand continuously hacked the ball away as Portishead laid siege to their penalty area.

Posset manager Kye Mountford wasn’t settling for a point. Having already substituted Vowles for Eastwood and Jaden Neale for Thorne, in the 87th minute he introduced striker Dean Griffiths for full-back Adams. From yet another free-kick into Willand’s box Woodhouse’s header–on just eluded Griffiths as Portishead ended the game with five up front.

Even so, the hosts had pace on the break and a fine Woodhouse defensive header was needed cut out an added time right wingWilland cross.  

Posset, the division’s top scorers, will be frustrated at being prevented from finding the net for only the fourth time in their twenty-five league games. A goal at any stage would likely have sealed the win but credit to Willand for their dogged defending.