Portishead Town made history by reaching the 2nd Round proper of the FA Vase for the first time with a 3-0 win, writes Matt Gillett.
The scoreline, and the fact their opponents play a level below in Wessex Division 1, might suggest this was routine for Posset, but it was never easy against a tough, competitive Fleetlands side, and it took a good team performance to go through.
With the redeveloped Bristol Road ground not quite ready, Portishead are having to stretch the definition of a ‘home’ game, this time involving an 80-odd mile round trip with Street FC kindly hosting the game.
The visitors were keen to go long and high, fighting for second balls.
It called for strong defending, with Elliott Ripley and Toby Lawrence, in particular, winning aerial battles, whilst goalkeeper Fin Croft dealt with anything coming his way.
Portishead also showed good composure in playing out through the press.
Led by skipper Mitch Osmond in midfield, Posset had to earn the right to play.
Alongside him, Kyle Egan always looked to create, and his dangerous 5th-minute cross saw a Fleetlands defender hit the ball against his own bar.
Jake Harper was also looking dangerous out wide.
The lead came on 22 minutes when, from a corner, Osmond received the ball in the box, took a touch, and drove home.
Just before halftime, Lawrence produced a stretching, hooked clearance, preventing a Fleetlands attacker going clear and preserving the lead at the break.
The perfect start to the second period, inside the first minute, Egan cut in from the left and hit a glorious right foot shot into the far corner for 2-0.
However, Fleetlands showed characteristic spirit, going straight to the other end, bringing an excellent save from Croft diving low to his left to keep out a shot.
Portishead nearly added a third after 64 minutes when Tom Llewelyn showed great strength to win the ball, feeding Egan, who released Benny Bament with his shot, forcing a corner.
Posset continued to put together some good attacking moves whilst making a number of changes.
One of the substitutes, Luke Attwell, made it 3-0 after 87 minutes, hitting home when the keeper could only push out George Fowler’s shot after Attwell had put him through.
Posset’s determination to keep a clean sheet was evidenced in time added on.
First, Lawrence put in another crucial last-ditch tackle with a Fleetlands player almost through, then from the resultant corner, player-manager Kye Mountford headed off the line to maintain the 3-0 margin.
Posset go into the hat for the next round as this group of players continue to set themselves new standards.
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