AFC Portchester made light of the wind and rain at Wicor Rec to record a convincing 4-1 Wessex League premier division win over Bournemouth Poppies.
The home side started brightly as they took advantage of the stiff breeze going down the ground.
Twice in the opening stages Simon Woods had good opportunities to open the scoring, but he squandered both as his efforts lacked power and were easily saved by Kenny Vaughan.
After dominating the first 20 minutes, the hosts finally took the lead following a stunning strike by Blu Boan.
Picking the ball up out on the right wing, the striker cut inside before firing a shot into the top corner of the net from 30 yards.
Five minutes later, AFC increased their lead when Liam Horsted crossed from the right and Woods slid in to score at the far post.
Despite the conditions, the teams were providing plenty of entertainment.
Bournemouth’s Connor Phillips reduced the arrears with a simple finish from a corner, only for Woods to restore Portchester’s two-goal advantage with a far-post volley before the break.
Five minutes after the restart, Portchester went further ahead.
Luke Ayrton was booked for a wild lunge on Liam Cresswell, and when Boan floated the free-kick into the box, Hardy got in front of his marker to glance home the fourth.
It was an impressive performance from Glenn Bridgman’s side and for a while they threatened to overwhelm their guests.
Dan Audin glanced over from six yards, then Lee Burney’s goalbound effort was blocked, before Kev Pottage’s effort flashed across the face of goal.
Having weathered the storm, Bournemouth then began to assert some pressure of their own.
Keeper Jason Plomer produced a flying save to deny Phillips, and the Poppies’ front man fired another effort into the side netting.
With the clock running down, Horsted should have added a fifth but Vaughan somehow managed to save it with his legs.
Also in the premier division, Hayling United suffered a disappointing 4-2 home defeat at the hands of bottom club Romsey.
Meanwhile, Moneyfields’ trip to GE Hamble and Horndean’s game against Fawley at Five Heads Park were victims of the weather.
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