Inkberrow 1 Portishead Town 0

Match Report by Matt Gillett / 24th January

There was no shortage of chances created by Portishead Town at Sporting Club Inkberrow.  But a combination of great saves, dogged defending, near misses and the woodwork, denied  the visitors. Instead, a terrific strike shortly before half-time earned Inkberrow a 1-0 win.

Portishead suffered the late withdrawal of Ethan Feltham through injury, Jaden Neale deputising. But despite finding themselves playing into the blustery conditions it was the away team who fashioned the early chances.

In the 8th minute Ollie Woodhouse intercepted, burst forward and passed to Jack Thorne. He combined with Jay Murray who found Lucas Vowles in the area. Inkberrow keeper Gabriel Bajrami saved his close range effort. In the 11th minute, after Vowles cross, Inkberrow cleared the ball from Thorne in the six yard box. A minute later, after Callum Eastwood’s header was palmed away by Bajrami, Aron Robbins netted the rebound only to be flagged offside.

Mitch Osmond and Tom Llewellyn controlled midfield, full-backs Robbins and Jamie Adams frequently overlapped. Adams linked well with the energetic Neale who was causing plenty of problems as Posset repeatedly forced corners.

Even so Inkberrow were no slouches on the break. Portishead keeper Jakob Glover, after a couple of earlier saves, was in action on 36 minutes. After Glover blocked an initial shot, Woodhouse cleared by the goal-line. But after 43 minutes Inkberrow went ahead. The ball fell to Jack Tolley who hit a superb 25-yard left footer into the top corner. Another Woodhouse overlap in the 47th minute saw Vowles played in but Bajrami denied him again at close-quarters.

 

The hosts started the second-half well, vital tackles by Eastwood and Woodhouse prevented Inkberrow breaking clear. But as Posset regained control the chances came. A 59th minute move involving Thorne and Vowles ended with Murray heading at Bajrami. After Vowles found Murray in the box, he set up substitute Dean Griffiths whose 68th minute right-foot shot rattled the upright. Two minutes later Bajrami clawed away a Vowles back header.

After 73 minutes Inkberrow shot wide from a rare attack but, with Murray and Jordan Williams continually involved out wide, Portishead strained to achieve parity. Bajrami tipped away Woodhouse’s 82nd minute inswinger. Throwing caution to the strong wind Posset went three at the back, Eastwood pushed up front. Inkberrow defended in numbers and fought for the scraps. In the eight minutes added time Woodhouse saw his header cleared off the line as Inkberrow dug in for a third successive win.

It wasn’t to be for a Posset side impacted by injury and suspension. Despite the setback this quality Portishead squad, made of very strong stuff, remain right in the thick of the promotion battle. Everything to play for.