AFC PORTCHESTER 1

Simm 80

PORTLAND UNITED 2

Symes 52, Walker 59

A FANTASTIC second-half performance saw Portland United to a 2-1 victory at AFC Portchester, with Jamie Symes and Steven Walker the scorers for the Blues in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division.

All three goals came in the second half, but Matt Simm’s late effort was in vain with the Blues 2-0 up at that point, while Portland also missed a penalty.

After 21 minutes, Ed Bastick was barged over in the box, and Symes stepped up but saw his effort read well and saved by the Royals’ goalkeeper Charlie Searle.

Mike Edgar then had to be alert to stop efforts from a Portchester side who were well on top at this point.

Yet the Blues held firm and went in at the break level, before a great second half.

Great build-up play saw the ball come to Darren Watts, who pinged a superb ball over the full-back’s head towards Max Buckler, who crossed over towards Symes to bundle over the line after 52 minutes.

Walker doubled the Blues’ advantage with a great header from a Darren Watts corner after 59 minutes.

The Blues then controlled the match, with chances through Max Buckler, while Searle then made a fantastic stop to deny a Ross Doidge header.

There were also efforts from Walker and Doidge also tried to strike from the edge of the box but could not find a way through.

Simm then knocked the ball in after 80 minutes, to hand the Blues a late test in the match.

However, it was one Portland passed, and they held on to claim all three points.

Portland boss Brendon King said: “It was a really good result, always nice to go away and get three points.

“The second-half performance was outstanding, we weren’t great in the first half, we were second best.

“Our goalkeeper (Edgar) kept us in the game in the first half.

“He made a couple of good saves.

“We tweaked things at half-time, we had a few words and in the second half we came out and we were firing on all cylinders.”

Referring to Walker’s goal, King light-heartedly remarked: “He rose like a tin of John West!”

Portland travel to Team Solent this evening (7.45pm).

AFC Portchester: C Searle, O Searle (Bedford 62), Buckland, Cripps, Warren, Hardy, Simm, Breed (Cooper 62), Turvey, Jackson (Kimber 59), Giamberlardini Sub not used: Birmingham

Portland United: Edgar, Doidge, Walker, Whyton, Bessant, Stewart (Beasley 70), Halloran, M Buckler, Bastick (Godfrey 75), Symes, Watts (Clarke 75). Sub not used: S Buckler