Victory for 5-star Posset

Portishead Town v Wells City, Western League Premier, Tuesday 28th July

Report by Matt Gillett

Back to back wins, nine goals scored. Portishead Town built on Saturday’s victory to record a 5-1 win over newly promoted Wells City.

Both Portishead full-backs, Harvey Tierney and Mason Winter, were pushed high to create width with Matt Britton shielding the home defence. New-signing Tierney certainly looks a player: tenacious in the tackle, eager to overlap with pace and purpose. 

Ethan Feltham got in a sighter before he gave Posset a 5th minute lead. Winter advanced left, cut back on his right foot and delivered a perfect cross for Feltham to nod home. Wells, energetic and direct, responded: Jakob Glover raced from his line to claim a cross at a forward’s feet and soon after showed great anticipation to intercept a dangerous long-ball on the edge of his box. Then Hamish Hurst produced a brilliant last-man tackle as Wells threatened. 

The visitors levelled after 24 minutes. Jamie Adams did well to get in a block on a right-wing cross but was unlucky to see the ball ricochet to Wells lively Raphael Oppong who made it 1-1. Just four minutes later Kyle Egan was sent clear, chested the ball on and was felled in the area. The skipper dusted himself down and blasted in the penalty, restoring the lead. Then in the 44th minute Jack Thorne got on the ball, released Feltham – onside on the shoulder of the defenders. Feltham’s measured cross was expertly turned in by Egan for 3-1. 

As the second period got under way Portishead’s pass-and-move continued to make the pitch big. Egan was away again bringing a 49th minute save from Wells keeper Tom Creed with Feltham prevented from netting the follow-up. Dean Preddie came on for Winter after 56 minutes; Tierney moved to left-back and Adams right-back. Ollie Woodhouse’s 65th minute long ball found Preddie out right, his cross just beyond the stretching Feltham. 

Egan often took possession deep to start moves, his awareness and smooth ball control earning him space. Mitch Osmond too was frequently on the ball, as well as tidying up and relieving pressure when required. On 72 minutes, from Egan and Osmond’s good work, Feltham had an effort blocked. Three minutes later, after Thorne tenaciously drove past defenders, Feltham brought another smart stop from Creed. 

In the 78th minute Woodhouse fed Egan, again in a withdrawn starting position. His sweeping long pass sent Thorne away for a classy finish. A well timed challenge by Wells’experienced Callum Kingdon halted Preddie, but Posset weren’t letting up. After a foul on Feltham, Osmond’s powerful 85th minute free-kick was parried by Creed only for Britton to turn in the rebound for 5-1.

Two games in, and with the team having done everything asked of them, the Posset Army headed home happy.

Photograph - Jack Davidson