Cruising into the final game of the season!

This weekend saw AFC Portchester visit Fleet town in the penultimate game of our Southern Regional South season. The game started very tentatively with both sides creating a few opportunities to score.

Eventually the dead block was broken around the 20 minute mark when Brooke Marshall expertly slotted the ball into the net from a corner. However the joy was short-lived due to Fleet capitalising on the next set piece.

The break couldn’t have come any sooner and gave the Portchester players an opportunity to recollect their thoughts ahead of the second half and as nerves started to ease we started to play some fantastic football and open up Fleet on a number of occasions.

Millie Bradbury was a constant thorn in the side making run after run in behind the Fleet back line and utilising the slope to our advantage however the Fleet goalkeeper manage to match every shooting opportunity created by the young wide player.

Around the 60 minute mark returning Portchester attacking midfielder El Williams did what she does best dancing around a couple of Fleet town players and expertly slotting home within the 18 yard box to make it two to Portchester, the relief set and Portchester then started to play some expert flowing football and nullifying every Fleet attack, limiting them to only one shot on target throughout the whole game along with their goal that they scored, the final breakthrough came around the 75th minute when young left back Ellie Hooker took on the town right back and dribble it into the yard to cut it back for El Williams second goal.

Portchester then controlled the remainder of the game and if it wasn’t for the Fleet's fantastic goalkeeper nullifying every Portchester attack the goal line could’ve been a lot greater following the match.

We now face AFC Stoneham in the Hampshire Senior Cup on Wednesday evening at Stoneham Lane football complex the other three fixtures Stoneham this year have been hard contests for both teams so we must dust ourselves down well and look forward to what is going to be a tough match on Wednesday evening.

Full time
Fleet Town 1-3 AFC Portchester
Goals from: Brooke Marshall, El Williams
POTM: Brooke Marshall & El Williams

City Ladies VS AFC Portchester Development

We played our final game of the season away against title rivals City ladies. A team we have come very familiar with over the last year. We came into the game with a few key players missing and a number of under 18's stepping up as well as playing over 100 minutes on Saturday.

The game got off to a to a quick start with City playing a long ball over the top for their striker to capitalise on seeing us concede early with less than a minute in. We were able to find a quick response with Harlie Jones with a central through ball to Vicky Fowler, making it 1-1 just 5 minutes later.

City ladies started to see more of the ball and put the pressure on, Sophie Slimm keeping the team in the game with a great tackle in the box to deny a goal scoring opportunity, keeping us level. With both teams slightly struggling to create another chance, we end half 1-1.

We started the half in a similar fashion as the first with City ladies knocking the ball through the middle and taking the lead in the first few minutes of the second half. 2-1 city ladies. Eira Palmer made a number of successful dribbles down the wing and was unlucky not to score.

In the 63rd minute, we conceded a penalty, and fortunately for us, this was hit wide, keeping the score 2-1. This time, however, we couldn't find an instant response. We started to find composure in the middle with Hannah Moffatt, making a positive impact since coming on.

We then were awarded a free kick outside the box in the shooting range. A fantastic effort from Liz Morgan saw the keeper try and parry it out, but it had already hit the roof off the net. 2- 2. 73 mins.

This time, it was City ladies' turn to create an instant response, and they made it 3-2 on their next attack straight from a corner. Time ran out for us to score another equaliser, and we ended our season with a 3-2 defeat. However, the girls can be immensely proud of their first season together, and today was just not our day. We will now wait for results around us to determine our final league standings.

Final Score:
City ladies 3- 2 Portchester Development
Goal Scorers: Vicky Fowler & Liz Morgan

POTM
Hannah Moffat & Eira Palmer