Portishead Town 6 Bristol Manor Farm 1
Match Report by Matt Gillett / 31st January
Southern League Division One South
Back with a bang! After not getting on the scoresheet for three league games Portishead Town hit Bristol Manor Farm for six, convincingly claiming local derby bragging rights with a 6-1 win.
Portishead started new signing Owen Humphries in midfield. Hard-working, skilful on the ball with an eye for a penetrating pass, he impressed throughout. And it was Posset setting the pattern with their pass and move. Manor Farm held a disciplined defensive shape and looked to break with pace.
Callum Eastwood’s 11th minute forward ball nearly put Ethan Feltham clear in the box. Two minutes later Mitch Osmond’s glorious pass found Jay Murray, he controlled it and measured his lob over Manor Farm keeper Tom Creed, 1-0. Two vital defensive tackles by Eastwood, first-rate at the back, kept Manor Farm out. But not to be denied Kian Hill’s 17th minute, 25-yard screamer flew in to level. Posset keeper Jakob Glover then made a good 23rd minute save.
In possession Posset pushed full-backs Jamie Adams and Aron Robbins up high. Robbins 29th minute bye-line cross found Humphries edge of the box, he controlled and struck a debut goal. As Portishead turned the screw, Robbins headed wide from Osmond’s 34th minute cross and on 36 minutes, after an incisive passing move, Murray found Jack Thorne who almost netted.
In the 39th minute Thorne won possession, ran at the Manor Farm defence and found Osmond, edge of the box, who hammered home. Another perfectly timed Eastwood interception ensured it was 3-1 at the break.
Second-half Portishead dominated. Feltham went clear in the 56th minute: after Creed partially parried his shot, a defender hacked away from the line before the Manor Farm keeper tipped Osmond’s shot wide.
On 58 minutes Tom Llewellyn, who knitted together so much of the day’s play, picked up the ball and found the tricky Murray out left. He made space before hitting low, Creed couldn’t gather and Thorne snapped up goal number four. Creed then saved after Feltham’s 67th minute run and shot.
Manor Farm had an attacking spell but the Posset defence held firm before the hosts asserted themselves once more. Substitute Jaden Neale’s 79th minute shot was deflected wide. Humphries played the corner short to Osmond who fired in, 5-1. In complete ascendancy Portishead forced a succession of corners, Creed saved from Murray on 84 minutes as his defenders were forced into numerous clearances. Posset weren’t done though and Ollie Woodhouse, typically assured throughout, headed in for 6-1 in the 86th minute.
A wonderful performance by Portishead lifting them to 3rd in the table, in front of a large and lively derby day crowd of 524, with plenty of backing for both sides.
Thank you to match day sponsor The Harrington family.
