Portishead Bounce Back In Style
Portishead Town v Brislington, Western League Premier, Tuesday 4th August
Report by Darren Vowles
Portishead Town bounced back from Saturday's disappointment at Saltash United in emphatic fashion, scoring four goals to overturn an early deficit and defeat Brislington 4-1 at Bristol Road.
The visitors made a bright start to what was initially a cagey contest, with chances at a premium. The first effort on target arrived in the 12th minute when Brislington threatened from a free-kick, but James Walker was equal to it, producing a fine save to turn the ball around the post.
Brislington took the lead ten minutes later. Winning possession inside their own half, they broke quickly through Tyller Davis-Whitlock, who surged down the left before cutting inside and firing beyond Walker.
Portishead responded well and gradually began to impose themselves, playing with the fluency that has become their trademark. Kyle Egan and Jack Thorne both went close as the hosts searched for an equaliser, while Harvey Tierney produced an outstanding display from full-back, constantly driving forward to provide an attacking outlet.
The leveller arrived in the 31st minute. Owen Humphries, making his first start of the season, delivered an inviting cross from the right. With Ethan Feltham also poised inside the box, Mitch Osmond clinically fired home to bring the sides level heading into the interval.
Portishead emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and almost edged in front immediately, only for George Dorrington to deny Thorne from close range.
The turning point came just after the hour when Brislington midfielder Ben Withey was shown a second yellow card, reducing the visitors to ten men.
From that moment, Portishead took complete control. Osmond came close to adding his second of the evening when Dorrington did well to push away his well-struck free-kick, but there was nothing the goalkeeper could do in the 67th minute. Egan's pinpoint delivery from a set-piece on the right found Ollie Woodhouse, who rose highest to power a superb header into the top corner and put the Posset in front.
With confidence flowing, the hosts never looked back. Substitute Jaden Neale injected fresh energy into the attack, repeatedly running at the Brislington defence and causing problems every time he received possession.
Feltham added a third with a goal of real quality. Collecting the ball on the left-hand side just inside the Brislington half, he drove directly at the retreating defence before cutting inside and drilling an excellent finish into the near post for his third goal of the season.
There was still time for a fourth, courtesy of some quick thinking from skipper Egan. As Brislington organised themselves to defend a corner, the Portishead captain caught everyone off guard by delivering the ball early. Despite Dorrington's attempts to claw it away, the assistant referee signalled that it had crossed the line to complete the scoring.
Dean Preddie almost rounded off a perfect evening when he burst clear late on, but Dorrington was again equal to the effort at his near post.
After suffering their first defeat of the campaign just three days earlier, Portishead responded in exactly the right manner. Having fallen behind, they showed patience, character and attacking quality to score four unanswered goals and return to winning ways in style.
Attention now turns to the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday, where Kye Mountford's side travel to Ardley United looking to carry this momentum into the cup competitions.
Photographs: Jack Davidson
