AFC Portchester defender Hardy rescues dramatic Wessex League point in derby with Baffins Milton

The centre half - virtually unbeatable in the air all evening - headed in a 92nd minute corner to ensure the spoils were shared on an evening where all the action was shoehorned into the end of each half.

Baffins had taken an 87th minute lead when Jamie White celebrated his 300th appearance for the club by netting from a corner.

Earlier, the Royals led on 43 minutes when Callum Laycock headed in a sumptuous cross from Barry Mason.

That lead lasted only 60 seconds, though, with Blu Boam plundering his 100th Baffins goal after a White shot had hit the base of a post.

In truth, a draw was just about the fairest result.

Both halves followed the same pattern - nothing much to choose between the sides, Portchester enjoying the better of what chances there were, no shortage of effort, too many fouls, too many hopeful long balls, hardly any saves of note and precious little in the way of entertainment, followed by two goals in quick succession.

Prior to the opening goal, the ‘highlight’ had been Baffins defender Josh Warren booked for a foul he didn’t commit - the match official seemingly not knowing who had been guilty of the offence and leading to a stoppage of several minutes.

In a game crying out for a great piece of skill, Mason finally provided it - a superb right-wing cross from near the corner flag presenting Laycock with the sort of chance a centre forward thrives on.

He couldn’t really miss with his header from six yards out - his first goal since signing from AFC Stoneham shortly after lockdown.

Having never really threatened their former keeper Cameron Scott in the home goal, Baffins levelled soon after.

White scuffed a shot from the edge of the area, which rolled across the six-yard box and onto a post with the Royals possibly expecting it to go out of play.

Boam was first to react, firing home from close range to bring up his century of goals for the club.

The second half was a hugely uneventful affair, with the first decent on-target effort arriving on 84 minutes.

A cross fell to Lee Wort on the left-hand side of the Baffins penalty area, but his fierce shot from 10 yards was parried by ex-Royal Charlie Searle with Oscar Johnston firing his follow-up effort well over the bar.

It was the only real save either keeper made all game.

Rovers stand-in boss Danny Thompson threw on Rudi Blankson and Billy Connor in the last 20 minutes in a bid to pep up his attack.

And it looked as if Rovers would claim a surprise win when White netted from a corner three minutes from time.

There was one final sting in the tail, though, when Portchester were awarded a 92nd minute corner.

Scott left his goal to come up to join the attack, but it was Hardy - standing virtually next to the goalkeeper on the edge of the six-yard box - who rose highest to head in past the defenders on the line.

The final whistle was blown literally three or four seconds later and a derby which won’t live in the memory finished with honours deservedly even.

There were positives for both teams, who are both in a transitionary period.

Portchester, having crashed 4-0 at home to Hamworthy at the weekend, at least avoided a second successive home league loss.

And Baffins, who traipsed off the more disappointed of the sides as they had led with seconds remaining, would no doubt have taken a point before kick off.

Portchester: Scott, Searle (Colbourne), Cripps, Evans, Hardy, Lander, Barry Mason (Shepherd), Ramsey, Laycock, Wort, Johnston.

Baffins: Searle, Lloyd, Dean, Sharp, Warren, White, Mason (Connor), Williamson, Boam (Blankson), Scutt (Burgess), Everett.