Westbury United 0 Portishead Town 2
Match Report by Matt Gillett / 21st March
Southern League Division One South
A deserved 2-0 away win for Portishead Town as they overcame a competitive Westbury United team. Coming on the back of a gruelling 350-odd mile round trip to Falmouth in midweek, this was another stirring shift from Portishead.
In beautiful sunshine on a bumpy pitch Posset’s defensive mettle was tested early as Westbury United got the ball forward quickly. But it was the visitors who struck on 9 minutes. Aron Robbins got the ball to Ethan Feltham, who scrapped for everything all afternoon, and he found Owen Humphries out left. Humphries dangerous cross was only cleared as far as Mitch Osmond on the edge of the box and he curled in a spectacular strike for 1-0.
In a tough physical battle, Hamish Hurst and Ollie Woodhouse showed both positioning and tenacity to keep Westbury’s attack at arms-length. Meanwhile, in attack Portishead looked to exploit the flanks with Humphries and Jay Murray much involved supported by full-backs Robbins and Jamie Adams. In a game not littered withclear cut chances Posset offered the greater creativity. While the game contained frequent aerial battles, the visitors sought to get the ball down and play whenever possible.
A 40th minute pattern of probing passes around the Westbury area was terminated when Matt Britton, impressive again in midfield, was upended. Osmond’s free-kick came close, hitting the side netting.
Straight after the break Kyle Egan’s left-wing cross almost put Humphries in. Egan, again closely tracked by defenders, intelligently moved his markers around the field to create space for teammates, whilst he still managed to get on the ball.
In the middle of the second-half, as Westbury enjoyed a spell of pressure, Portishead keeper Jakob Glover dealt confidently with balls into his box and gathered a rare 64th minute shot on target. In front of him Posset’s players combined to close space and clear their lines.
Jack Thorne, a 55th minute replacement for Humphries, was almost in on goal from a break on 75 minutes after good work by Osmond and Murray. A minute later Lucas Vowles also joined the action in pace of Murray as manager Kye Mountford refreshed his teamsfront-line. In the last minute of normal time Thorne tracked all the way back to halt a Westbury attack, epitomising the work-rate of this Posset side.
Into added time Thorne picked up Robbins clearance, broke down the left and crossed for Vowles to seal the win with a confident finish.
A third straight win in eight days for Portishead, without a goal conceded, and sixteen from the last eighteen points available. A big, big statement of intent from Posset as they tick the games off in their bid to secure a play-off place.
Thanks to Martin Pearce / MP Sports Photography for use of the photographs seen on this page.
Hugo Richards