ENTERTAINING FA CUP DRAW SETS UP REPLAY

Larkhall Athletic v Portishead Town, FA Cup Preliminary Round,

Saturday 22nd August 

Report by Matt Gillett

No shortage of entertainment as Portishead Town and Larkhall Athletic produced a pulsating 2-2 draw in this FA Cup tie. The sides will now settle matters in Tuesday’s replay.  

While Posset had the majority of the early possession, Larkhall came close after 8 minutes, James Walker saved well before Ollie Woodhouse blocked the follow-up. Then, after Owen Humphries released him on the left of the Larkhall box, Jack Thorne’s 12th minute shot was hacked clear with the keeper beaten. 

Humphries trademark willingness to dribble with the ball continually drew defenders. But, arguably against the run of play, Larkhall went ahead, former Portishead loanee Freddie King hit a stunner past the stretching Walker. Noses in front, the hosts sat deep, breaking up the game where necessary. Thorne made several dangerous forward runs but was also on hand with a perfectly timed interception in his own box to stop a Larkhall break. On 44 minutes, from Kyle Egan’s corner, Woodhouse’s looping header had to be cleared over by a defender. 

If Portishead went in frustrated, they made the perfect start to the second-half: inside the first-minute Humphries run committed the defence, he found full-back Harvey Tierney and his measured byline cross was headed home by the leaping Thorne. For a spell it was all Posset’s pass-and-move as Larkhall camped in their defensive third. Humphries and Tierney linked again in the 56th minute, Ethan Feltham heading the cross just over. In a 58th minute Larkhall break Ben Cleary beat Walker to the ball but couldn’t finish from the angle. 

Chances arrived at both ends. Thorne was just wide after combining with Humphries on 59 minutes, then Larkhall couldn’t capitalise on a loose ball in Posset’s box. Humphries again found Thorne in the 66th minute with his shot held by keeper Liam Armstrong, a minute later Woodhouse’s intervention kept Larkhall out. Mitch Osmond’s determination made space for a 70th minute cross, Feltham’s header shook the woodwork and Josh Jenkins put the rebound over.

Jaden Neale entered the fray as Portishead turned up the heat and fashioned a fine 74th minute goal. The industrious Jamie Adams found Osmond, again wide right. His marvellous cross was nodded in by Feltham, 2-1. With Egan always available to receive possession, Posset held a good shape and moved the ball well. 

However, Larkhall won possession and after making space Stan Wyatt’s well-placed 84th minute shot produced the equaliser. Three minutes later Matt Britton made a vitalclearance to stop the home side snatching it. Dan Dodimead and Freddie Fowler made their Portishead debuts from the bench as Armstrong saved Neale’s stinging drive at the death.

To make a Southern League team defend for long spells on their own patch is no mean feat. Portishead will take plenty of confidence into what should be another good encounter on Tuesday.