AFC Portchester boss Mick Catlin reflects on shock FA Vase loss: At any level reputations count for nothing

The Royals boss said lower-division US Portsmouth were ‘by far the better side in the first half’ of the second qualifying round tie in front of a bumper crowd at The Crest Finance Stadium.

‘We were lucky to be just two goals down at half-time. We didn’t have any answers to the questions they were asking.

‘We were better in the second half, but we didn’t threaten them enough.

‘We found it difficult to contain their front three. James Franklyn was their best player by a mile, and Todd and Seiden occupied our centre halves well and stopped us playing the ball forward.’

US celebrated wildly at the final whistle, and Catlin said: ‘You could tell they thought we were a big scalp for them.

‘They raised their game, and we didn’t raise ours to match them.

‘At any level reputations count for nothing, and I don’t think we matched them in any department.

‘I won’t lie, we wanted a good run in the Vase as it can take you to Wembley. But I won’t be losing any sleep over this - the league is our priority.’

Portchester have won their last three league games, without conceding a goal, and next Saturday have an ultra-tough trip to Lymington Town.

Lymo are the only side in the Wessex Premier still protecting a 100 per cent record.

‘We’re taking a supporters coach there,’ said Catlin.

‘There’s a lot of interest in the club at the moment, the attendances are good.

‘We had a good crowd at the weekend, and it was an entertaining game for the neutral.’

Keeper Brad Snelling is expected to be sidelined for over a month after suffering finger and knuckle injuries that forced him off in the second half against US.