Same Again From Portchester - Bournemouth vs. AFC Portchester

Wing play in front of the stand at Victoria Park

It was the very first round of The FA Cup last weekend and I normally permit myself a bit of a longer trip out of London for this special occasion and my first game in this years competition was an all Wessex League affair between Bournemouth and AFC Portchester. Victoria Park is a ground I've had an eye on for a while due it's stand and as with Lydd I wanted a time where the game was definitely going to be on. I'd seen Portchester earlier in the season when they recorded a comprehensive four nil away win at East Preston of The Sussex League (I'm sticking with the old name). According to the excellent match programme, Portchester won the league fixture between this two at Victoria Park last season 6-2. Back to this season and the hosts had drawn and lost one game while the visitors had won one and drawn one.

Kick off at Victoria Park

Portchester have the first chance of the game when a shot from inside the area is flashed just wide of the far post. Portchester are having the vast majority of the ball and the Bournemouth keeper make his first save of the game from another angled drive after Portchester had got in on the left wing. Bournemouth's first chance comes from a free kick in a dangerous position which is just cleared and the resulting corner unfortunately comes to nothing. Portchester then get to the byline but the attacker takes too long to pass the ball which allows the Bournemouth defence to get back and the shots are blocked. The Bournemouth keeper then makes another good save from a well drilled free kick. Bournemouth's best chance of the half comes when the ball is headed back into the area but the onrushing forward doesn't fully connect with the ball. Just as it looks like Bournemouth will go in at half time level, Portchester finally make their pressure count with a goal just before the break. 

Portchester attack in the first half

Portchester continue where they left off and they miss an absolute sitter in the opening seconds of the second half. They come closer again shortly afterwards when a shot from the edge of the area is deflected wide when it could have gone anywhere. They come even closer when following a short corner routine, the Portchester attacker is allowed to shoot from the edge of the area and to Bournemouth's relief the shot hits the bar. They hit the woodwork for a second time as the man is found in space at the back post and this time his shot hits the post. Portchester eventually get second when Portchester break down the left wing and the cross again finds the free man at the back post and he makes no mistake as the ball is slid in to double the advantage. The away side put the tie beyond any doubt as the forward is able to dance through the defence and slams the ball home to make it three nil.

Seconds before Portchester hit the bar in the second half

Regular trains to Bournemouth depart from Waterloo on a regular basis and the journey takes just under two hours. Once in Bournemouth, the sea front is a steady fifteen minute walk from the station although I found it a little tricky to navigate. A short walk from the pier is Sixty Million Postcards which is extremely hip but does have an awesome selection of beers and I'm also reliably informed that the food is also very good. Across the park is the more traditional The Brasshouse which is a chain pub but did the job as it had both BT and Sky Sports early kick offs on big screens. From The Square you can catch the number 6 bus which takes you to Boundary Road Roundabout which is a five minute walk away from the ground. There are up to six buses an hour and the journey takes ten or so minutes. The clubhouse was friendly and also had BT Sports. On colder days you can watch the game from the clubhouse. As I mentioned earlier the programme is fantastic so it worth getting there on time so you don't miss out.

Winger on the run in front of the dugouts