PO F Portland United 0 Laverstock & Ford 0 (aet; 5-3 pens)

25 April 2026

And so, after 38 rounds of matches and two semifinals, it comes down to this: Portland United v Laverstock & Ford for the second promotion spot into Step 4.  Congratulations to them both for getting here, but there can only be one winner.  The league games between these two saw two home wins: 3-2 at the Camp & Satherley, and 2-1 at the Dell (so 4-4, with Lavvy winning on away goals).  The hosts had to be favourites for this one – home advantage in the windy city where they had won 16, drawn twice and only lost once all season (their very first, against Hamble, back in August when presumably the breeze was less severe!).  Having seen both the semifinals, my impression was that the Blues were an exceptionally organised team, disciplined off the ball – but Lavvy had done a great job of disrupting Hamble Club on Tuesday, and that appeared to be their best hope this afternoon. 

A game played in glorious spring sunshine – and, perhaps to the hosts’ disappointment, no more than a gentle breeze – a game full of passion and energy but not, perhaps, the attacking quality which would make it live longer in the memory for the neutral: of which I guess there weren’t many among the 810 who gathered to witness it, a magnificent crowd including plenty of away supporters… were I more of a cynic I might wonder where they all were two weeks ago, in both number and volume, when Lavvy hosted Brock… but that’s for another day.  For today it generated a raucous atmosphere, generally very good-natured.   But it was an afternoon when defences were largely on top, and neither side could quite find that magic spark to open the game up.  It didn’t feel particularly cagey, maybe there were some nerves but mostly it was superb organisation, especially off the ball, which kept things so tight.  Lavvy started the game with more of the possession and territory, but for all that they created little: one free kick which was cleared to the edge of the box where Hubert Cegielka shot over, and one clever pass chipped through to Cam Roach, inside the box, who volleyed over.  The Blues, composed and patient, created more – a superb run from Jacob Coombs leading to a chance for Delves on the left, well saved at the near post by Zak Roberts; a shot from Jack Delves excellently blocked; a clever free kick, about 30 yards out, taken by Delves and unexpectedly aiming for the near post, needing a diving save; and closest of all, Archie Woolford with a shot which came back off the bar, the rebound going wide.  Right on half-time, Portland might have made another chance with a lightning break, but Adam Bourner was back to chest the ball to his keeper and snuff out the chance.  HT 0-0

Time goes by, no breakthrough, nerves start to jangle… among the fans and on the benches, certainly, I can’t speak for the players.  5 minutes after the restart, Lavvy caught offside – not for the first time – Cegielka disagreed with the decision, bounced the ball in anger and was given ten minutes in the sinbin (time to get his breath back!)… during which period Portland so nearly found that moment, a wonderful run from the impressive Woolford who hit a curling shot which hit the inside of the post and – bounced back into the keeper’s grateful arms.  You can’t get much closer than that!  Back came Cegielka in time for a Portland corner, headed wide – but in the battle for the ball Bourner had clearly been hurt, possibly by the way he landed on the concrete-hard ground, and although he tried to continue, two minutes later he had to be withdrawn.  He was distraught as he left the pitch, a sad end to another fine performance.  The Blues seemed to be in the ascendancy but the Bulldogs refused to wilt and created a couple more openings – Cegielka shot narrowly wide, there were a couple of dangerous corners, and with 10 minutes left Stainer-Reid had to gather quickly at his near post ahead of sub Moseley.  Cegielka with another fine run, another shot to the near post on the angle, another save… and as time was running out, Portland might have won it but for a superb defensive header to take the ball away from Nixon who would have been 8 yards out, unmarked.  FT 0-0

To my surprise, I confess, there was extra-time!  Two very tired sides now: the game had opened up but neither really had the energy to find a way.  Coombs headed wide from a corner for Portland – quite a decent chance – and Nixon tried an overhead kick which only just went wide; at the other end, Coombs made a superb block from Lovegrove.  Into the second period, sub Carson Arnold went on a mazy run for Lavvy and created a chance for Lovegrove, wide… 5 minutes to go, a deep cross for the hosts, glancing header over by the outstanding Jamie Cleaver, my man of the match ahead of the rock-solid Portland back four and the Lavvy workhorse Dom Jackson (where do they get their energy from, these youngsters?!).  The final time ticked away… and penalties it was.  AET 0-0

Dramatic, yes.  Cruel, maybe.  Someone’s time to be a hero.  Portland to start.  Five successful kicks (Corbridge, Borthwick and Scott for Portland, Colmer and Lovegrove for Lavvy)… but step forward Toby Steiner-Reid with a brilliant low save down to his left to deny the undeserving Cegielka… Niixon made it 4-2 and although Arnold converted his kick, seemingly in off the keeper, Josh Camp had a kick to send Portland up.  No pressure, lad… smashed it home, never in doubt, Portland in dreamland.

On balance, it was a game which neither side deserved to lose, and neither quite did enough to win.  So on those grounds, it’s fair enough that the team who finished higher in the league should make their way to Step 4 – and let’s be honest, there’s a fair few clubs in the Wessex who won’t be sorry not to have to make this journey again next season!  Massive congratulations to the Blues, who must have a reasonable chance of establishing themselves at the higher level if they can make their home a fortress: not many clubs will fancy visiting this place any time there’s an R in the month… commiserations to Laverstock & Ford, who were a surprise package for me this season but showed that they were worthy finalists.  And now I’m going to take a break… until the League Cup Final on 4 May…