The Royals will look to retain the trophy they won last season against fellow Wessex Premier Division side AFC Stoneham at AFC Totton’s Snows Stadium on April 15.

Portchester were 3-0 up against National League side Aldershot at one stage in their semi final and a late fightback by a youthful Shots squad brought the scoreline back to 3-2.

And they almost sent the tie into a penalty shoot out but for a last-gasp block by the home defence deep into stoppage time.

The Royals almost took the lead inside the opening 30 seconds of the match when a shot from the edge of the penalty area was deflected into the path of Connor Duffin, who slid in on the ball to try and turn it home but it flew across the goal and went wide.

Five minutes later Charlie Williamson’s cross from the right to the far post picked out the run of Harrison Brook but his attempt to slide the ball home flew over the bar.

Aldershot then went on the front foot and the home defence did well to withstand a strong spell of pressure by the visitors.

On 14 minutes a cross from the right picked out Harry Thorpe in front of goal but he glanced his header wide and a minute later another ball into the box from the right created a chance for Thorpe and this time keeper Steven Mowthorpe had to block the shot with his legs.

Thorpe went closer still on 18 minutes when he latched on to a through ball played down the middle of the pitch. He lifted his shot over Mowthorpe but the ball dropped narrowly wide of the target.

Portchester then created some pressure of their own at the other end three minutes later when Brett Pitman’s header was deflected behind for a corner. From the corner Archie Willcox’s header was saved by keeper Marcus Dewhurst and the attempt to force home the rebound was blocked on the line.

Aldershot went close a couple of times on 27 minutes when a free kick taken by Zion Nditi from 30 yards out had to be tipped over by Mowthorpe and from the corner a shot from close range was partially blocked before a second attempt to force it over the line dropped wide.

Marley Ridge’s deflected shot got the corner which led to Portchester’s opening goal three minutes before half time. The cross was sent towards the far post and Willcox outjumped everyone and sent his header into the net from eight yards out.

A corner also led to Portchester’s second goal when they doubled their advantage on 57 minutes. Pitman’s shot was partially blocked and the ball eventually found its way to Duffin, who while on the floor tried several times to kick the ball over the line and he eventually managed to flick the ball into the corner of the net.

It was almost 3-0 six minutes later when Brook took the ball forwards down the left up to the edge of the penalty area but when he tried to fire his shot into the net he ended up putting it wide.

The Royals weren’t to be denied their third goal on 65 minutes when Pitman was shoved over inside the box by Dewhurst and he fired his penalty low into the net.

However, any thoughts that Aldershot were a beaten side were quickly dispelled as they dominated the play in the final quarter of the match.

On 72 minutes Brad Dolaghan laid the ball off into the path of Joe Lewis-Evans and he attempted to beat Mowthorpe at his near post but the keeper blocked the shot and the loose ball was cleared to safety.

A minute later the visitors pulled a goal back when the ball was crossed in from the left and Dolaghan’s downward header from close range bounced into the net.

At the other end Portchester went close again with Willcox’s header and Pitman’s shot from just outside the box before Aldershot got their second goal with six minutes remaining. Tariq Uwakwe played the ball low into the six yard box and Dolaghan was there to tuck his shot home from close range.

Dolaghan thought he had completed his hat-trick in the fourth minute of added time when the ball was slipped through to him inside the box and his low shot was heading in until a couple of home defenders threw themselves in front of the shot and they managed to block the ball behind for a corner.