WLC Final AFC Portchester 2 Hamble Club 0

5 May 2025

And now, to my final game of the season, another quasi-neutral contest – the League Cup Final, for the second successive year featuring Portchester and Hamble, and this year played at the On-site Group Stadium.  Not so much of a neutral venue, then, with Portchester bidding for the league and cup double, and the Monks seeking to defend their trophy…

For 75 minutes, this was a very watchable encounter – two well-matched teams, both trying to play positive football, and lit up by a wonderful goal from Marley Ridge.  Gradually, as time slipped away, Hamble found the mountain a bit too tough to climb, and by the time Lee Wort scored the second with four minutes to go it was no surprise and even, perhaps, overdue; that sealed the league and cup double for Portchester, apparently the fifth time it’s been achieved – and this is one trophy that they won’t be back to defend next season!

Hamble Club probably shaded the opening stages of the game, without managing to trouble Mowthorpe in the Portchy goal.   Did the Royals get a lucky early break?  A long ball over the top, Douglas got beyond the defence, brought down by the last man… in my view, the yellow was the correct decision, Douglas didn’t have the ball under control and there were other defenders in the vicinity, but you know, seen ‘em given.  The Monks found themselves in good positions quite a few times, with Douglas and Hamilton impressing, but high crosses were routinely headed away by an impressive back line (not sure the Portchy defence missed a header all afternoon) and Portchester – after all of two weeks off – didn’t look quite as slick as usual.  Having said which, the flow of the game wasn’t helped by a strong, gusty wind which made the flight of the ball quite unpredictable.  Yeomans tried his luck for Hamble from 25 yards – wide of the target.  Just after the half-hour, Ridge was booked for a late challenge on Chivers: both obviously going for the ball, but it was close to us and the contact sounded horrific, making both the Content Adviser and me wince – glad both were able to continue.  It then briefly became the Marley Ridge show (and if you’ve read the blog before, you’ll know I rate him pretty highly): first a clever dart into the box but just unable to get enough on the ball to lift it over the keeper.  40 minutes, a clean volley from the edge of the box which hit Chivers and went just wide for a corner – could have gone anywhere!  Brief interlude, Newman just claimed a ball ahead of the onrushing Wort, who collided with him and was booked, a harsh decision.  Back to Ridge, last minute of the 45: wonderful control inside the area to hold of three defenders, played the ball back to Brook who seemed to take too long and lose the momentum, back to Ridge on the edge of the box – superb, curling effort around the defenders and in at the far post.  We were right behind it and had the perfect view; Newman probably saw it late.  A great way to open the scoring in a final.  HT 1-0

The Royals always looked the more likely in the second half, although it wasn’t one-way traffic.  48th minute, a shot from Pennery, well saved by Newman, who then got back up to superbly block the follow-up from Ridge.  53, a neat move on the right, Pennery with a brilliant turn but his shot went wide of the far post.  Just after – another piledriver from Ridge, magnificent block from Chivers, the rebound suddenly setting the Monks free, Gange in pursuit but Mowthorpe got there first and cleared out to the left wing which nearly led to a chance… breathless!  69, a header into the box from Ridge, Newman was rooted to the spot but Pennery’s lob went over the bar.  But, as all that shows, it felt as though a second goal was coming; Hamble weren’t moving the ball quickly enough, or quite accurately enough, to create a clear opening.  And, as noted above, in the last 15 minutes Portchester basically took control of the ball and didn’t look under much pressure.  They finally scored the second with four minutes to go, Wort collecting the ball on the left, beating his man, moving into the box and beating Newman from an unlikely angle.  There could have been more – a great run from his own half from Brook in injury time, his cross smashing into Honeysett (what a great recovery run that was) and hitting the side-netting; and then an Alamo moment, with shots saved and blocked, last ditch tackles, somehow the ball staying out and giving a final score which was just about right.  FT 2-0

So, congratulations to Portchester; they deserved the win.  Their defence was rock-solid, for all that Marley Ridge was the most influential player.  Hamble worked hard but just came up a bit short.  Entertainment was provided by a group of fans with a hooter, used judiciously at every Newman free kick; and also by the fans behind the goal bedecked in Portchester bucket-hats, looking for all the world like a group of orange Bill and Bens.  I don’t mean that to be in any way offensive, but hey, Portchester have gone up and they’ve blocked me anyway!

And now, that really is it for the season.  Time to take a breath.  I won’t be attending any of the remaining finals, so I’ll be back for the pre-season friendlies… have a great summer, everyone.