Portishead Town 6 Didcot Town 0

By Matt Gillett / 10th August

Portishead Town, after successive promotions, cannot dreamed of a better introduction to life in the Southern League. At this level for the first time in their history they thrashed visitors Didcot 6-0, and this on an afternoon where they also had 3 more goals chalked out for marginal offsides.  

From early on Portishead were a threat. In the first 25 minutes Ethan Feltham’s header from Mason Winter’s cross hit the bar, then the No.9 saw a couple of shots saved and Jay Murray robbing a defender also worked the keeper in addition to having an effort disallowed for the first of those offsides. Didcot’s No.6 could also count himself lucky to see only yellow when pulling Murray down as he broke clear. The only setback for Posset was an early injury to Feltham necessitating his 23rd minute replacement by Lucas Vowles.

Just 5 minutes later though, Portishead were in front. After a corner was cleared Winter’s long cross into the 6-yard box was finished by Vowles. Another 2 minutes and Vowles flick on was handled, skipper Kyle Egan converting the penalty, 2-0. Then on 35 minutes Jamie Adams won possession, releasing Aaron Robbins down the left.  His cross was met by Jack Thorne’s header that brought a save from the keeper with Murray on hand to smash in the rebound. 44th minute and it was Vowles again getting on the end of Egan’s in swinging corner to make it 4-0 at the halfway stage.

The second half and Posset hunted more goals. Only the assistant referee’s flag denied Thorne in the 49th and 64th minutes after good finishes from more flowing home moves. But Didcot, pacey going forward, were always a threat and Posset’s keeper Ryan Thacker performed superbly all game producing a number of excellent saves, a couple at point blank range. The whole defence were disciplined and determined protecting the clean sheet.

Throughout the pitch there was plenty to enjoy from Portishead: the quiet efficiency of Adams screening his defence, Egan and Murray linking up, Mitch Osmond’s energy and quick passing, and Vowles’ presence as a constant outlet and threat up front. Collectively Posset’s prodigious work rate gave them the platform to play their free flowing football.

The home team weren’t done with scoring. On 70 minutes Murray won the ball, passed to Osmond who in turn fed Adams on the edge of the box. His glorious shot sailed into the net, 5-0. Then after 80 minutes Robbins cross reached substitute Jordan Scadding in front of goal. He coolly finished to make it six of the best.

Just the first league game and no-one will get carried away. But this was an emphatic way of ticking off those first 3 points.

Thanks to Ollie Riddoch for the photos.