AFC Portchester and Fareham Town played out a bore draw in their latest derby encounter.

The derby clash unfortunately mirrored the weather in being a damp squib, the wind and rain put paid to any flowing football being played.

The weather also put paid to any notion that the usual four figure crowd would be in attendance for the fixture – although the 722 who did brave the awful conditions deserve enormous credit.

Portchester keeper Cameron Scott’s alertness was tested in the opening minute when Casey Bartlett-Scott let fly with a shot from 25 yards out and he had to tip it over the crossbar.

The home side had their first chance on five minutes when a cross from the left dropped to Connor Duffin but his header was smothered on the line by keeper Charlie Searle.

A minute later Fareham had a great chance to score after Cam Sullivan got down the left and hit the ball low across the box only for Charlie Cooper to lose his footing just at the moment he was shaping up to shoot.

Goalkeepers in this game had to be wary of the slippery conditions under foot and on 24 minutes a free kick from the half way line was played deep into the penalty area and Searle had to be certain of his save with Jack Lee waiting to pounce on any re-bounds.

From a corner Archie Willcox then had a shot blocked and Duffin blasted the re-bound over the target before the Royals had a goal ruled out for offside.

On 28 minutes Will Ayre cut inside after receiving the ball on the left and let fly with a shot that was on target until Lee slid in to deflect it wide.

Chances were few and far between in the second half. On 63 minutes Duffin picked up the ball from the midfield and hit a shot from 25 yards out which was well held by Searle.

On 71 minutes the home side got forward down the left before a ball played low across goal found substitute Ryan Wilkins but it bounced off his legs and went wide.

Eight minutes later quick ball created space for another shot – this time for Lee but he fired his effort straight at Searle.