AFC Portchester were back to their majestic best as they romped to a 4-0 victory over Moneyfields on Bank Holiday Monday.
Four goals in 33 first half minutes secured the three points by half time for the Royals, who were able to comfortably see out the second half and ensure the visitors were unable to stage any form of comeback.
There was another spectacular goal to add to the August worldie goals file too, as Alfie Stanley scored from close to the half way line – his second of the game and his fifth goal of the season.
Moneyfields had the first chance to break the deadlock after two minutes when the ball was played up to Rudi Blankson on the edge of the box but his low shot was easily gathered by keeper Steven Mowthorpe.
The Royals got their noses in front a minute later following a defensive error by the visitors. A defender lost control of the ball on the edge of his own six yard box and Stanley pounced to win possession and then roll his shot into the net.
Portchester were 2-0 up on ten minutes when Calvin Davies’ ball in behind the Moneys defence sent Zack Willett racing clear down the right. He cut inside a defender before firing his shot into the far corner of the net.
Blankson went close with a free kick from 25 yards out which just cleared the crossbar and at the other end after an attack down the right, the ball dropped on the edge of the box to Archie Willcox but he put his shot well over the target.
Blankson again had a chance for the visitors when he tried to slide in on a low ball put across the six yard box but he just failed to connect with the cross.
The Royals then went 3-0 up in spectacular fashion on 21 minutes. Moneyfields were caught in possession in midfield and a quick pass fed the ball to Stanley, who after taking a couple of strides into the Moneyfields half of the pitch, sent his shot from over 50 yards out sailing over stranded keeper Ellis Grant’s head and it dropped into the net.
The scoring was completed on 36 minutes when more pressing from the home side in midfield saw them win the ball back and it was played to Ryan Wilkins. He took it up to the edge of the box, cut inside his marker and then curled his shot into the far corner of the net.
The second half was a lot quieter with the home side comfortably in front and the visitors struggling to make any real inroads past the strong home defence.
On 56 minutes Conor Bailey received the ball on the left hand edge of the penalty area and his low shot had to be diverted around the post by Grant.
Two minutes later a free kick was floated into the box and after Willcox’s header bounced away off the keeper’s face, Jack Lee fizzed his first time shot over the target.
Substitute Max Smith almost got his first goal for the club with five minutes remaining when his free kick from 25 yards out was heading in until Grant managed to flick the ball over the crossbar.
