Portishead Town 4 Larkhall Athletic 2
By Matt Gillett / 6th December
‘Game of two halves’ anybody? Trailing 0-2 at the break, unable to make headway against the conditions and a combative Larkhall side, Portishead Town roared back to victory. The 4-2 win showed once more Portishead’s absolute determination.
An afternoon of very blustery weather as Portishead found themselves playing against the wind first half. Larkhall Athletic, in the main adapting better to the conditions, had the better of the early stages without really threatening. The visitors gambled by going long, won second balls and broke up play preventing Posset getting into their rhythm. For their part the hosts found it difficult to put moves together.
Larkhall went in front in the 18th minute, breaking down the right the cross was converted by Kieran Phillips. On 25 minutes Jack Thorne, a threat all afternoon, made a run across the box before finding Jay Murray who forced Larkhall keeper Liam Armstrong to save from a tight angle. In the 30th minute Larkhall hit the post, Posset defenders threw themselves in blocking successive follow-up shots. Another right wing attack and cross gave Phillips a 42ndminute tap-in. Just before half-time Lucas Vowles headed Kyle Egan’s free-kick wide.
After the break It was immediately apparent that Portishead were sharper in possession, passing quickly on the ground. On 52 minutes they pulled a goal back; Jamie Adams hit a fine ball to Thorne on the right, Vowles controlled and converted the cross. Larkhall found Posset’s movement hard to contain, goalkeeper Liam Armstrong had to parry a powerful 55th minute Murray shot. Larkhall seemed happy to concede fouls but probably regretted their 66th minute flattening of Egan. The skipper dusted himself down and floated his free-kick into the box where Ollie Woodhouse turned home for the leveller.
Game now most definitely on. Mitch Osmond and Tom Llewellyn were winning the midfield battle, Thorne constantly showed for the ball as full-backs Adams and the very impressive new-signing Jordan Williams made repeated overlaps. In the 73rd minute Aron Robbins found Thorne out left, his cross was nodded back by Murray for Vowles to head powerfully in to make it 3-2. Just 5 minutes later Murray put Thorne in, Armstrong saved his shot well but Vowles was there to claim his hat-trick. A richly deserved reward for the striker’s dominant second-half display.
Callum Eastwood replaced Murray in the 79th minute, adding physicality to the midfield. Eastwood’s well-timed tackle in the area thwarted a dangerous 88th minute attack. Although Larkhall hit the woodwork from the corner it was one of their few threats of the half.
Terrific comeback by Portishead when some might have thought them down and out. Keep the faith and never count this side out.
Darren Vowles