Incredible away form continues with victory at Brockenhurst

The Royals are now undefeated in 13 Wessex Premier Division games on the road since they last tasted an away defeat at Bashley back in February.

Since that 4-1 set back, Portchester have won 12 of the 13 away league games which have followed, with only Horndean able to deny them all three points over that period. The Royals have taken 37 points out of a possible 39 in that run.

Portchester had to come from behind twice to beat Brockenhurst. The home side held a 2-1 lead at half time - and hopes of a shock victory - after capitalising on defensive errors with their counter attacking play.

But the Royals came out for the second half and produced a masterful performance, netting three unanswered goals and putting a complete stop to the home side’s attacks in the second 45 minutes.

The visitors made a quick start to the game and had some decent chances to take the lead.

A Scott Jones header from a long throw in on the right was saved by keeper Brad Snelling, a free kick was hooked back across goal by Curtis Da Costa but no one was following in for what would have been an easy tap in and Brett Pitman tried to bend his shot from 15 yards out into the top corner but Snelling leapt up to push the ball away.

At the other end Kieran O’Donnell had a shot from the edge of the box well blocked by a defender and Marley Ridge put his own shot from the edge of the penalty area straight at Snelling.

Brockenhurst caught Portchester sleeping when they took the lead on 24 minutes. A ball down the right saw the home player being allowed to cut inside too easily and he laid the ball off to O’Donnell, who hit his shot across keeper Steven Mowthorpe and into the net.

Both sides then created chances from corners. Elliot Wheeler knocked the ball down into the six yard box but no one was there to seize on the loose ball and for the home side Tyler Edmondson out jumped everyone to win the ball at the far post but he put his header narrowly wide.

A corner led to Portchester’s equaliser on 39 minutes. The initial cross was cleared as far as James Cowan on the left and his cross back into the penalty area picked out Da Costa’s run at the far post and he tucked the ball home.

However, the home side found themselves back in front just two minutes later. There didn’t appear to be any particular danger when the home side worked the ball forward down the right but again Brockenhurst’s attack opened up the visitors’ defence and this time Oliver Dennett ran in at the near post to tuck the ball home.

Moments before the half time whistle Pitman had a chance to send Portchester in at the break level but his header had no power on it to trouble Snelling.

The Royals emerged for the second half more focussed and they soon took full control of the game.

They equalised on 54 minutes when Sam Pearce’s lofted ball forward saw Pitman beat a defender and Snelling to the ball when it dropped out of the sky and he headed it into the net for his 29th goal of the season.

On the hour mark Wheeler had a good chance to score from a free kick but he couldn’t get any power behind his headed chance.

Liam Robinson’s good work in midfield set the visitors on their way to their third goal on 69 minutes. After winning possession he swept the ball out to the left to Conor Bailey and his low cross was turned home from close range by Scott Jones.

Portchester looked to stretch their lead after this with Pitman blasting well over and then combining with Ridge to set up another chance for Scott Jones but a defender blocked his goal-bound effort.

The fourth goal came in injury time when the home side gave the ball away as they tried to clear their lines and Portchester quickly capitalised on the opportunity and Scott Jones emphatically dispatched his shot into the net.