AFC Portchester play their third game at Cams Alders in five months when they return to Fareham Town in the League Cup.
The Royals closed out their successful 2024-25 campaign as Wessex League champions with a 3-0 win there on April 19 before returning on August 12 to grab their first ever Step 4 victory by coming from behind to win 3-2.
Now the two sides meet yet again at Fareham’s home tonight (Tuesday, September 23) with a place in the next round of the League Cup at home to Egham Town the reward for the victors.
Both sides have seen their Pitching In Isthmian League South Central Division campaigns put on hold during September due to their continued involvements in the national cup competitions.
Fareham’s only league game so far this month came last Tueday night when they shared a 1-1 draw with Horndean. The rest of their month has been dominated by two games apiece in the FA Cup and FA Trophy competitions with a win and a defeat in each.
The FA Cup brought victory over Winchester City but defeat to Sholing, while the FA Trophy brought a win against Beaconsfield Town but a defeat at home to Bishop’s Cleeve.
AFC Portchester’s month has followed a similar path with just a single league game so far – defeat at Southall. The Royals went out one round earlier in the FA Cup after losing their replay at home to Gloucester City but September has brought two wins in the FA Trophy – at home to Flackwell Heath and Tavistock.
Fareham have had the slightly better start to their league campaign but there is not much in it. In their first five league games Fareham have won two, drawn two and lost one, compared to Portchester’s record of won two and lost three. The Royals currently sit in 16th place in the league table with Fareham two positions above them in 14th.
But before minds re-focus on league matters, both sides have the distraction of a cup tie to think about and local derby bragging rights too.
