AFC Portchester recorded their first ever Step 4 victory by coming from behind to win the El Creekio derby at Fareham Town.
A strong start saw them take the lead but the home side battled their way back into the game and held a 2-1 lead at the interval.
However, two goals in the space of three second half minutes put the Royals back in front and Fareham weren’t able to put the Portchester goal under any serious threat in the last quarter of the game.
The win stretched the Royals’ unbeaten away run in league games to 20 matches, with this result being win number 18 of this impressive run.
The visitors created a string of early chances on the Fareham goal. On six minutes Charlie Williamson’s cross from the left found Ryan Pennery and keeper Declan McCarthy has to tip his shot over.
The corner was cleared as far as Zack Willett around 30 yards from goal and he glided past two Fareham players before firing off a shot which hit the top of the crossbar.
The Royals took the lead on nine minutes when the ball was intercepted in midfield and played forward to Connor Duffin and his first time shot from 20 yards out kept low and flew into the corner of the net.
Fareham caused a scare in the Portchester six yard box a minute later when a corner from the left dropped towards Ethan Quinlan but keeper Steven Mowthorpe was able to smother the ball.
However, the home side drew level on 22 minutes when they won a free kick around 25 yards out and Sam Godfroy fired his shot straight into the net.
Portchester were still pressing for goals and on 28 minutes a cross from the left by Williamson found Duffin in front of goal and his header had to be tipped around the post by McCarthy.
Two minutes later Ryan Wilkins tried to turn home a corner from the right but his effort from six yards out went just over the crossbar.
On 37 minutes Pennery took a free kick from the left hand edge of the box and after McCarthy pushed the ball out, Zack Willett tried to knock the re-bound home but the home keeper made another block.
Fareham took the lead three minutes before the interval when a defender slid in to try to block a cross from the right and the referee ruled the ball struck his arm. Jamie Arnold sent Mowthorpe diving the wrong way with his spot kick.
The visitors made a fast start to the second half and they equalised in some style on 54 minutes. A long ball played forwards found Willett about ten yards away from the right hand edge of the penalty area. His control of the ball as it dropped towards him was excellent but the finish was even better – after taking a few strides forward he unleashed a swerving shot from outside the box which left McCarthy rooted to the spot as it flew into the far corner of the net.
The Royals took the lead three minutes later when Williamson and Pennery exchanged passes down the left and the former’s cross to the far post found Duffin and he powered his header into the net.
The final quarter of the match didn’t produce any late derby night drama, with the home side unable to muster any real chances of note.
Portchester almost stretched their lead on 72 minutes when a corner was knocked down by Duffin into Pennery’s path but his shot from close range was blocked by McCarthy’s foot and it looped up and over the goal.
