AFC Portchester crashed to defeat on the road in London again – this time losing 2-1 at Southall.
This result followed on from the 2-0 setback at Bedfont on their last league away day during the Bank Holiday weekend.
The Royals could have few complaints about the outcome at the SKYEx Community Stadium – they were fortunate to reach the interval still at 0-0 before two goals for the home side early in the second half ensured they would be claiming all three points.
Southall produced a number of dangerous attacks during the first half. On nine minutes a quickly taken free kick put Makael Scott clear down the left before he cut inside but he blazed his shot over the goal.
Two minutes later Scott got clear of the Portchester defence again – this time down the right – and his shot smashed against the crossbar. Daniel Roberts brought the re-bound down and hit a fierce shot towards goal but keeper Steven Mowthorpe beat the ball away.
The visitors then had a couple of chances of their own. Zack Willett’s first time pass on the half way line to Lee Wort put him clear of the home defence but he put his shot wide.
Wort then turned provider on 21 minutes when his cross from the left picked out Willett, who set the ball back to Tommy Scutt but his shot went high and wide of the target.
Scott was proving to be a thorn in Portchester’s side and on the half hour mark Roberts played the ball up to him and after cutting inside again he unleashed a shot which Mowthorpe had to dive to his right to push away from goal.
Four minutes before half time Roberts received the ball in space but he blazed his shot over from a good position to score from.
The home side got their noses in front five minutes into the second half following some good passing play through the midfield. Anthony O’Connor received the ball on the right hand side of the box and Mowthorpe managed to parry his cross away but it dropped to Roberts and at the second attempt he guided the ball into the net.
Southall doubled their advantage on the hour mark when Kevin Diomande was put clear down the right and his low cross pulled back from the byline picked out Scott and he side footed the ball under Mowthorpe and into the net.
However, Portchester gave themselves a lifeline on 69 minutes when a penalty was awarded after Charlie Williamson was sent tumbling under a challenge in the box and Connor Duffin blasted his spot kick into the roof of the net.
The Royals went close to finding an equaliser on 76 minutes when a free kick was played into the penalty area. Archie Willcox flicked the ball on and Willett’s header flashed just wide of the post.
With seven minutes remaining and the visitors chasing the game, quick passing and movement from Southall saw Ryan Hope break into the box and Mowthorpe had to push his shot around the post. The resulting corner dropped to Cerny Ando but he blasted his shot over.
Portchester had a half chance to snatch a point deep into injury time when the ball was played high up into the box. Willcox headed it back across the penalty area but no one in light blue was able to apply a firm enough contact on the ball to turn it towards the goal and keeper Hugo Sobte smothered the danger.
