Portishead Town 5 Exmouth Town 0
By Matt Gillett / 25th November
In another top drawer display commanding Portishead Town overwhelmed Exmouth Town 5-0. The win keeps Portishead top, 3 points clear, boosting their goal difference to an eye-watering +34.
All Posset early on and a tough assignment for the visitors got even harder after 11 minutes. Exmouth’s Matt Wright earned a straight red, kicking out at Ollie Woodhouse after the centre-back beat him to a header. Exmouth defended in numbers as Portishead moved the ball quickly, one and two touches. Skipper Kyle Egan sprayedpasses across the pitch, full-backs Jamie Adams and Aron Robbins overlapped at will. Up high Jay Murray and Ethan Feltham were constantly involved.
Lucas Vowles’ 19th minute header was held by Exmouth keeper Aaron Dearing after Egan and Feltham combined, Mitch Osmond also tested Dearing with the game essentially attack versus defence. After 31 minutes Egan played a corner short to Murray left of the box, he curled into the net as Robbins jumped with Dearing. Still Exmouth packed their 18-yard box, facing wave after wave of attacks. Then as halftime approached, Exmouth had their only spell on the offensive bringing two strong saves from Ryan Thacker amidst a flurry of corners. But the half ended with a stretching Dearing tipping away a superb Robbins effort.
More of the same after the break, Murray in sparkling form saw a shot blocked by Dearing. In the 57th minute Osmond sent Vowles away right, from his cross Dearing’s feet saved Feltham’s effort. A temporary reprieve – from the corner the ball reached Feltham, hiscross was buried by Robbins’ header, 2-0. Exmouth can’t have been cheered up by the sight of another striker entering the field, Jack Thorne replacing Osmond.
Attacking threats came from everywhere, Dearing was constantly in action as Vowles and Feltham brought more saves from the keeper. Jaden Neale came on for Vowles on 72 minutes, introducing himself with a fine right wing run. After 74 minutes Portishead won possession up high, Thorne fed Neale who smashed home a terrific debut first-team goal.
Exmouth had stuck doggedly to their task but, despite stubborn resistance, the attacks kept coming, Woodhouse and Hamish Hurst driving out from defence. Dearing kept out another Neale effort then clawed away the substitute’s cross. In the 83rd minute great control from Woodhouse bursting into the box before passing to Neale, he fed Thorne who rolled in for 4-0. More Dearing saves from substitute Jake Packham and Murray before Thorne made it 5-0 after 91 minutes: Feltham’s cross shot was blocked by the keeper only for Thorne to force in for his brace.
Posset now prepare for a trip to 3rd placed Shaftesbury as this latest thrilling season continues to unfold.
Jack Davidson