AFC Portchester made the early start as they broke the deadlock two minutes into the game. A shot from Alfie Stanley inside the Gosport penalty area was blocked by Jordan Stepney but he deflected the ball onto Ryan Wilkins who was there to arrow a shot into the far corner.

The Royals’ lead lasted just a matter of minutes as Gosport found their leveller on five minutes. Michael Fernandes passed it onto Harvey Rew, who was starting his first game for Gosport this season, but he didn’t look out of place at all ….as he rifled a shot in from the edge of the area to mark his return with a goal.

Portchester restored their lead on eighteen minutes when Charlie Williamson got the better of Ben Greenwood on the near side and fired in a cross which found Lee Wort in front of goal who was there to bundle in from close range.

Ten minutes before the break Gosport had a goal ruled out when Michael Fernandes played in Ethan Taylor, who clinically fired past Scott from close range. The linesman adjudged Taylor’s run to be offside and the goal was chalked out.

Instead it was the away side who dealt the last blow in the first 45’. A free-kick taken a few yards away from the left touchline saw Calvin Davies behind the set-piece. Despite looking like it was destined for a cross, Davies went for the spectacular as launched a rocket past a helpless Harry Laver, to cushion the lead going into the break.

Half-Time | Gosport Borough 1-3 AFC Portchester

Gosport found a passage back into the game ten minutes after the re-start when Ethan Taylor won a penalty after being bought down inside the visitors’ box. Michael Fernandes stepped up, sliding it into the bottom left corner to reduce the deficit to just the one.

For the second time of the night Gosport had a goal ruled out. This time Harvey Rew struck a thunderous effort towards the right hand side of the net. Rew was denied his second as the offside flag was raised again.
Gosport had to wait ten minutes for their equaliser. Fernandes intercepted a sloppy Portchester pass, played out from the back and charged forward. He nonchalantly faked a shot leaving Scott on the floor, which opened up an open net for the forward. Fernandes made no mistake and slotted home.

On eighty minutes, having already scored twice and getting one assist, you wouldn’t believe who got the next goal… Yep, Michael bagged his hat-trick. After getting onto the end of a cross, he kept his composure inside the Portchester box, chopping inside of his defender before slotting home for his third.

The game wasn’t over there though. A Portchester free-kick taken on the near side was looped in towards Jack Lee who was there to steer home his header with five minutes left on the clock.

Neither team could find an eventual winner which resulted in a penalty shootout. Both teams converted their first three penalties, but Gosport missed their fourth when Ethan Taylor had his penalty saved by Scott who dived the right way. Portchester capitalised and converted their next through Ryan Pennery which gave the visitors the advantage in the shootout. Finn Walsh-Smith kept his side alive when he converted Gosport’s fourth spot-kick of the shootout after the powerful shot proved to be too much for Scott to keep a hold of. Reuben Austin took the decisive last penalty and made no mistake, as his left-footed strike flew into the left-hand side of the net which sent his side through to the final of the competition.

Full-Time | Gosport Borough 4-4 AFC Portchester (4-5 on the shootout).

We now turn our attention back to league action when we travel to Berkhamsted this Saturday, so we’ll see you then. But final words from me: UP THE BORO!!!