AFC Portchester face former striker Lee Wort as they go in search of an FA Cup upset in Southampton
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Wort has started the 2022/23 in stunning form after leaving the Royals earlier this summer to return to Sholing.
He netted within six minutes of his competitive return in last weekend’s 3-1 Southern League Division 1 South curtain-raising win at Slimbridge.
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Hide AdAnd he followed that up with a hat-trick in Tuesday’s 5-1 caning of Melksham that sent Sholing to the top of the embryonic league table.
Wort made his name at Sholing, scoring 49 goals in 2013/14, the season they clinched a Wessex League and FA Vase double.
He struck 50 times in all competitions when Sholing won the Wessex for a second time in 2018/19.
Last season, Wort continued his remarkable step 5 record - plundering 40 goals in all competitions for Portchester.
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Hide Ad‘Lee scores goals, that’s what he does,’ said Royals boss Dave Carter ahead of Friday evening’s preliminary round tie at the other end of the M27.
‘He’s a great player, he works and works tirelessly. He’s an honest lad, he gave me a call and said he wanted to finish his career at Sholing playing with his mates.
‘That’s totally understandable.’
Including friendlies, Wort has netted 11 times since returning to Sholing - including five in a friendly against Brockenhurst.
That’s one fewer than Brett Pitman has scored since his high profile arrival at Portchester at the beginning of last month.
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Hide AdPitman’s double at Blackfield last weekend extended the Royals’ own 100 per cent start to 2022/23.
Wort’s strike partner Dan Mason – who netted 64 goals in all competitions in 2018/19 – has also scored in both of his side’s opening Southern League victories.
‘It’s a massive game,’ Carter added. ‘Our confidence is high and we’re going there to give them a game.
‘I’ve said to the players I don’t think they are unbeatable, we just need to play as we did in friendlies against Havant, Gosport, Salisbury and Dorchester.’
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Hide AdThough Sholing are one tier above Portchester, the Royals defeated Salisbury and Dorchester - both two divisions higher - in friendly action last month.
Midfielder Marley Ridge is out after fracturing a toe at Blackfield, while Ashton Leigh (knee) could be a doubt.
One member of the Portchester squad with good FA Cup memories of Sholing is keeper Steve Mowthorpe.
He was part of the Blackfield & Langley side that won at the higher tier Boatman in 2012/13 en route to a fourth qualifying round loss at Hastings. Wort was also playing for Sholing that day.
Mowthorpe was also part of the Moneyfields (2017/18, third qualifying round) and Chichester City (2019/20, second round proper) squads that also set new FA Cup records for the furthest ever reached.