Portishead Town 6 Taunton Town 5
Match Report by Matt Gillett / 13th January
You had to be there to believe it. Trailing by three goals to higher league Taunton Town, twenty-five minutes left, Portishead Town were heading out of the cup. But summoning up unimaginable reserves of spirit and belief, Portishead staged the mother of all comebacks to win 6-5.
With a number of players missing Portishead still fielded a powerful line-up, including the welcome return of Mason Winter from long-term injury. Southern League Premier Taunton went strong too, just one change from the weekend.
Portishead settled well. Aron Robbins 4th minute ball forward found Lucas Vowles, he worked the space for a cross that just eluded Jaden Neale. Vowles and Neale prevented Taunton from clearing their lines, forcing a 9th minute throw in the corner. The potent weapon of Hamish Hurst’s long throw created mayhem and Neale hammered home for 1-0.
Taunton edged their way into the contest and Posset keeper Ryan Thacker saved well from Scott Robinson. Then on 22 minutes as he denied the ever dangerous Owen Brain, Hurst was unfortunate to see the ball in his own net. Portishead now worked hard out of possession as Taunton threatened, Thacker producing an excellent 24th minute stop.
Then Thacker’s 27th minute long kick started the move putting Portishead ahead again. Jay Murray jumped high, flicking the ball on to Neale, he returned it and Murray finished beautifully from the left side of the box. Back came Taunton: Ollie Woodhouse blocked a shot, Thacker dived low to push an effort wide. No denying the visitors on 34 minutes though, Brain curled in an equaliser from the edge of the box.
A minute later Taunton were in front, Jack Rice picked up a loose ball and finished well. With Taunton into their stride Hurst and Woodhouse worked vigorously to contain them. But from a 44th minute break forward, Brain scored. Still time for Neale’s shot to shake the inside of the post and bounce back to stranded keeper Frankie Phillips, 2-4 at halftime.
Quick feet and a cool finish brought Brain’s hat-trick, and Taunton’s fifth, after 48 minutes and it seemed the game was gone. Portishead brought on Callum Eastwood and Jordan Williams for Winter and Jack Thorne respectively. Posset refused to buckle, harrying and tackling they disrupted Taunton’s rhythm and scrapped their way back.
Murray almost reached Eastwood’s 59th minute long ball. A Williams cross forced a 65th minute corner cleared by Taunton, Llewellyn recycled, found Eastwood on the left of the area and he curled gloriously into the top corner.
Vowles shot against the bar from a 67th minute free-kick into the box. In the 73rd minute it was the woodwork again denying Portishead: Williams to Robbins, his cross was met by Murray who struck the post. No escape this time though as Vowles thumped in the rebound, 4-5. Suddenly Taunton looked on the ropes and but for Phillips stretching save Eastwood would have had an 81st minute carbon copy of his goal.
A minute later it was all square at 5-5. Murray’s cross was controlled by Vowles who teed up Robbins to crash in the equaliser. And on 89 minutes the transformation was complete. Eastwood’s pass found Neale on the right, his strength and pace took him clear before he crossed for Vowles to score the winner.
Portishead held firm through 8 minutes added time to record an incredible victory. Bristol Road erupted and to think at 2-5 down, I was willing to settle for penalties…
Ollie Riddoch