AFC Portchester stormed into the next round of the FA Cup with a resounding 3-1 replay victory over Melksham Town.

The Royals raced into a 2-0 lead after only 22 minutes and Lee Wort’s wonder goal on the stroke of half time ensured his side could see out the game in the second half in relative comfort.

Portchester made a fast start to the game and dominated the early exchanges and took the lead on 12 minutes.

Lee Wort picked the ball up in midfield and raced into the left hand side of the penalty area. He knocked the ball on to Ryan Pennery, who pulled it back into the path of Alfie Stanley and he fired home his first goal for Portchester.

Stanley went close to grabbing a second goal four minutes later when he picked up the ball on the right, cut into the penalty area but put his shot into the side netting.

It was 2-0 on 22 minutes when a corner from the right was knocked back across his own goal by a defender and Wort reacted quickest to turn the loose ball into the net.

The visitors had a couple of half chances to score from just outside the box around the half hour mark but on both occasions their shots sailed well over the goal.

The home side went close to getting their third goal on 36 minutes when a ball in from the right was heading straight to Pennery just outside the six yard box. 

He would have had a simple tap in if it wasn’t for keeper Adam Forster spotting the danger and he just about got across in time to cut the ball out.

A minute later the Royals went even closer when Zack Willett was sent clear thanks to a through ball from midfield and although his shot beat Forster it went narrowly wide of the far post.

There was no stopping Portchester in first half stoppage time though when they netted a goal which has been seen by millions of people on social media. 

Some described it as the best goal they had ever seen – it’s hard to disagree with them.

Charlie Williamson played the ball up from inside his own half into the right hand side of the penalty area. With his first touch Wort brought the ball under control and cut inside two defenders and with Forster looking like he was in a good position to deal with any shots fired off, the odds were in the keeper’s favour.

However, a touch of genius by Wort saw him try a rabona shot and the ball flew past the keeper’s shoulder and into the net. If you haven’t seen the video yet search for it on social media – it is a must watch.

The second half proved to be a more even affair with the home side comfortably in front, but they almost got a fourth goal on 54 minutes. 

Willett was put in behind the Melksham defence and he tried to dink the ball past the keeper but Forster was able to push the shot away.

Jamal Lawrence had been the danger man up front for Melksham in the first game and he almost got on the scoresheet again three minutes later. 

The ball was played into him from the left and he unleashed a vicious dipping shot which only just cleared the crossbar.

On 70 minutes Willett played the ball down the right to Williamson and his cross picked out Wort at the far post but the striker was denied his hat-trick when Forster managed to beat away his effort.

The visitors got themselves on the scoresheet on 76 minutes when keeper Steven Mowthorpe managed to block an initial shot after the ball was played into the box but Lawrence reacted quickest to turn the re-bound home from close range.

Portchester were still creating good chances and they almost restored their three goal advantage when Connor Duffin latched on to a high ball played towards the penalty area. 

He turned past his marker and fired off a shot which was heading into the net before a defender’s outstretched leg knocked the ball away.

The reward for Portchester’s excellent performance is a trip to Moneyfields in the Preliminary Round stage of the Emirates FA Cup.

The tie will be played at Moneyfields’ John Jenkins Stadium on Saturday, August 16 – kick off is at 3pm.