WLC SF Millbrook 2 AFC Portchester 3

25 March 2025

Another bonus game – the League Cup Semi-final.  This was a thoroughly entertaining game which Portchester ultimately won by the odd goal in five, a result they celebrated in a way that showed it mattered to them – and that they knew they’d been pushed, possibly more closely than expected.  It was the right result – Portchy were the better side and deserved it – but Millbrook were tenacious and simply wouldn’t go away right until the end.

For the first half hour or so, the Royals were utterly dominant.  Controlled in possession, some slick passing, Millbrook barely had the ball in the Portchester half.  First goal, 4th minute, a free kick not properly cleared and Wort scored from the edge of the box.  Routine.  Portchy didn’t add to that lead, though – the defence was stretched but held firm, the final ball not quite accurate enough, Pennery missed the target from the edge of the box on 25… and suddenly a break from the hosts, Olajide skinned his defender brilliantly down the left and hit a sweet shot which was arrowing into the far corner, Mowthorpe just managing to get a hand and push it wide.  Back to attack v defence for a bit – a sublime turn from Pennery but a curling shot over the bar – and then the second goal, a curious affair, a long ball forward towards the edge of the box, keeper Walder and Portchester right-back Williamson converged on the ball but Williamson got there first, I’m sure he only meant to chip it past the keeper and pass it home but he got too much on it, lobbed it high… and it bounced into the net, pursued by despairing keeper and defender.  More very neat play from the visitors, one super move led to a corner which was headed against the bar, which would probably have been tie over.  And the game’s third goal, right on half-time, came for Millbrook.  A free kick out on the right, Mowthorpe called for it but his punch was weak and only found White on the edge of the box, and he lofted it back in, over everyone and into the net.  HT 1-2

It took Portchester all of 60 seconds to restore their two-goal cushion.  A brilliant run from Bailey from his own half, right to the edge of the box where he was tackled and lost control of the ball – picked up by Pennery who calmly beat two defenders and smashed a shot into the far corner.   But back came the dogged Dockers: within three minutes, a long hopeful ball forward, chested down by White inside the box, half-time sub Stefaniak ran past two statues to convert and it was back to a one-goal game.  In truth, the Royals should have put this to bed after that – again they failed to make the most of some good positions, Wort was caught offside too often, but they were forced to defend better too: Biddleston with one powerful run down the right but his cross looping onto the roof of the net, Olajide with a snap shot 8 minutes from time which Mowthorpe got down smartly to save, and as Millbrook pushed forward there were more chances on the break for Portchy, not taken.  In the end it didn’t matter, because there was to be no last-minute drama, and the visitors secured their place in the final.  FT 2-3

An enjoyable game – Portchester again showed that they’re the class team this year, and the final score was much closer than you’d have expected, certainly at 45 minutes when it looked likely to be a romp.  But Millbrook didn’t quit, credit to them, and on another day their determination might have been rewarded.  But it was not this day.