AFC Portchester bowed out of the Velocity League Cup thanks to a 2-0 defeat at home to Egham Town.

The Royals started brightly enough and created a number of openings but after the visitors took the lead midway through the first half the evening ended in disappointment as the home side didn’t look like they would find a way back into the game.

Manager Gav Spurway made seven changes to the line up which had started the game at Wimborne at the weekend, giving minutes to those in the squad who needed them and resting some players ahead of a November schedule which includes nine league fixtures.

On seven minutes a ball over the visiting defence found Zack Willett but his first touch saw the ball run away from him. A minute later he received the ball in space on the right, cut inside and beat two defenders before hitting a shot which was curling inside the far post until keeper Michael Edegbe threw himself to his right to push the ball away from goal.

On 13 minutes a throw in on the right was helped on by Spencer Spurway into the path of Harrison Brook but his shot flew narrowly wide of the post.

However, Egham scored from their first attack of the game when they won a corner. Keeper Cameron Scott made two point blank saves to keep the ball out but the home defence couldn’t fully clear their lines and Jordi Ebanda eventually fired home the loose ball from ten yards out.

The Royals looked to get back on level terms on 38 minutes when the ball was fed to Spurway but his low shot lacked the power to trouble Edegbe who gathered the ball easily.

Five minutes later a ball down the left wasn’t cleared by the home defence and that allowed Deago Dunbar-Bonnie to fire off a low shot but that went straight through to Scott.

Both sides traded chances at the start of the second half as Portchester tried to find a way back into the game and Egham looked to put the match beyond their reach.

On 53 minutes a throw in from the left was knocked down to Luke Heneghan but he got no real power behind his shot and Scott easily saved it.

Three minutes later play down the right saw the ball worked up to Spurway, who went past two defenders as he made his way into the penalty area. He then chipped his shot past Edegbe but it bounced back off the far post before being hacked away to safety.

Egham doubled their lead on 61 minutes from another corner that the home side failed to clear. The ball dropped to the far post and Excellence Muhemba converted his shot from five yards out.

The Royals did have the ball in the net two minutes later when Spurway’s swerving shot was saved by Edegbe but Connor Duffin was ruled to have been in an offside position when he tucked home the re-bound.

On 69 minutes substitute Josh Clack had the chance to shoot following a break down the left but his rising effort from 15 yards out was well held by Edegbe.

A minute later a quick break down the other end of the pitch saw the ball played into the near post where Muhemba tried to back heel it into the net but Scott made the block at point blank range.