In warm but overcast conditions following the heatwave Gosport started the better as they created two chances in the opening 10 minutes; Dan Wooden firing over from range and Billie Busari placed his shot wide after being found in space through on goal against a static away defence. But it was Portchester who took the lead after twelve minutes as Aston Leigh broke through the midfield area and unleashed a shot from approximately 25 yards out, the ball nestling inside the bottom left corner past Patrick O’Flaherty; the last opening for either side as they cancelled each other out for a lengthy period.

The drinks break seemed to spark the hosts into life as they equalised within sixty seconds of the restart as the ball was worked into the feet of Busari, who cut inside down the right with a fake shot before slamming home into the roof of the net on 28 minutes despite the best efforts of Sam Pearce on the line. This was arguably the final notable chance of the first half despite Tyler Giddings’ curling free-kick going wide and over the bar as the referee blew for the interval immediately afterwards.

The hosts took a two-one lead after 51 minutes after Matt Briggs ran down the left and played a great floated cross into the box; Ryan Woodford reacting quickest to the loose ball and converting past a diving Steve Mowthorpe as fans applauded the attacking move. And it soon became 3-1 as quick tiki-taka passing down the wing found its way to the lurking Harvey Rew, who sent a first time curling effort low into the opposite corner through a crowd of Portchester legs.

Substitutions and niggly injuries signalled a lull in proceedings either side of the hour mark before the visitors reduced their deficit; a defence-splitting pass finding Ryan Wilkins and he made no mistake in firing home underneath the outrushing keeper. But any hopes of a Portchester comeback were ruined as Wooden restored Borough’s two-goal advantage, collecting a loose ball on the right side and bringing it round the keeper before curling off the post from near the corner flag; the final 20 minutes proving quieter as the match reached its inevitable conclusion.