AFC Portchester boss Catlin calling on his experienced heads to deliver Southern League promotion

The Royals are one of four clubs aiming for the Wessex League Premier Division title - along with Alresford, AFC Stoneham and Christchurch - and the automatic promotion that goes with it.

Whoever finishes runners-up could also go up - either automatically or via a play-off final at a higher division club.

One of the most fascinating title battles in Wessex history is likely to go down to the final fortnight - if not the final day when Portchester host Christchurch.

There will almost certainly be twists and turns before then, but at present Catlin’s troops are on a roll - the weekend 6-2 win over rock bottom Amesbury was their sixth in seven matches.

Catlin fielded a strong XI with three strikers - Dan Wooden, Jason Parish and Alex Baldacchino - with a midfield including ex-Moneyfields Wessex promotion-winner Nathan Paxton, Rob Evans and Josh Hanratty.

The latter – Catlin’s man of the match – was a recent signing from Southern Leaguers Blackfield.

In defence against Amesbury Catlin paired another recent recruit, ex-Sholing Wessex winner Pete Castle, with Craig Hardy while Joe Noakes came off the bench at half-time at left back.

Midfielder Sam Lanahan - recently of Southern Leaguers Gosport and Dorchester - was on the bench.

‘It was probably the most experienced side I could have put out,’ said Catlin.

‘At this stage of the season there is added pressure. We’re at the stage now where we need to produce most weeks - we can’t really afford to drop any points.

‘You can probably win promotion with one or two young players mixed in, but you need that experience to get you over the finishing line.’

In terms of Portchester’s title rivals, Alresford are the ones who mirror their squad the most.

The likes of ex-Gosport pair Craig McAllister and Mike Gosney - plus a handful of players with Southern League experience at Winchester City - give the Magpies that much-needed nous that no amount of money can buy.

In the end, Portchester had far too much firepower and, as expected, buried an Amesbury side losing for the seventh game running. There were no formbooks flying out of open windows.

But Catlin and co were given a couple more scares by the struggling Wiltshire club than they might have anticipated.

Bearing in mind they were 6-0 down at half-time en route to a recent 9-0 loss at Stoneham, Amesbury did well to hold out at The Crest Finance Stadium for 39 minutes.

Granted, the Royals had missed a whole host of chances before then - but relief was tangible when Baldacchino tapped home from close range.

Within two minutes it was 2-0 - Castle also netting from within the six-yard box, the 100th league goal Amesbury had conceded this term.

Portchester received a rude shock within five minutes of the restart when defender Zak Pickett lashed home from Amesbury’s first corner of the game.

And it required a great save from keeper BradSnelling - flying through the air to tip a deflected Ewan Haylor free-kick over the bar - to deny Amesbury a stunning equaliser.

‘That was probably a wake-up call,’ insisted Catlin. ‘We were able to step up a gear and in the end it was a comfortable win.’

That was true, but nerves were only settled on 64 minutes when Jacob Brown fouled Jason Parish and, in the absence of suspended regular penalty-taker Steve Ramsey, Baldacchino struck a superb spot-kick past Jordan Tewksbury.

That was the signal for Portchester to really step it up, and on 71 minutes Wooden was put through to make it 4-1.

Straight from the restart - literally within 20 seconds - Parish rampaged through the middle to get the goal he should have had much earlier in the game.

The former Baffins man had been given ample chances to continue his fine goalscoring run prior to eventually bagging his eighth goal in six league outings.

Parish turned provider on 79 minutes, setting up Wooden to grab his 20th Royals goal of the season from within the six-yard box.

It was the fourth time Amesbury had shipped six goals in a league game this term - following 12 at Portland, nine at Stoneham and eight at Brockenhurst.

But it was the visitors who had the final say, striker Billy Connor converting an injury-time penalty after he had been fouled in the box.