Bobby Read hits dramatic hat-trick as Portchester Rovers beat Wymering in Mid-Solent League thriller

The 19-year-old took his Rovers tally to 14 in just five games since returning to the Mid-Solent League after a spell with Hampshire Premier Leaguers Harvest Home.

Read completed his treble with two goals in the last five minutes as second-placed Portchester came from 1-3 down to win 4-3.

But he is now facing a few weeks on the sidelines after suffering a broken collarbone playing in a Sunday League game at the weekend!

‘It was a massive game for us,’ said Rovers boss Chris Yoxall.

‘The celebrations when the fourth goal went in were as if we’d won the league.’

Read’s first goal came via a penalty – after his side had trailed 2-0 – but it looked as if Wymering would take the points through a Zak McGregor double and a goal from Nev Farley.

But Ben Nightingale scored within seconds of Wymering taking a 3-1 lead, and the latter were then reduced to 10 men when striker Brad White was sent off for violent conduct.

‘Brad almost joined us earlier in the season,’ said Yoxall. ‘I think there had been some winding up by both teams and in the end Brad got frustrated.

‘I would have been happy with a point, but when Brad went off it was all us.’

It was Portchester’s sixth straight win, following a 5-1 loss by FC Strawberry in their opening game of 2020/21.

‘We had an absolute nightmare against Strawberry,’ said Yoxall. ‘Our keeper went AWOL and some players got stuck on the motorway.

‘But from then on we haven’t stopped winning.’

This is Yoxall’s second full season as Rovers boss and he is aiming to build on last term’s performances.

‘I think if the season hadn’t been stopped we might have pinched third place,’ he said.

‘We were in the semi-finals of the Purcell Cup and we reached the county cup quarter-finals before losing on penalties.

‘We had struggled to find our feet for a while, but last season we ended up on an upward curve.

‘Now the aim is to break into the top three and become challengers.’

Read isn't the only new face this term – Nightingale has returned to the club after a spell with Meon Milton while defenders Rich Aylett and Hayden Toms and midfielder Paul Harris are also fresh signings.

Portchester are only a point behind leaders Mob Albion after the latter were held 2-2 by AFC Stubbington.

Harry Potter maintained his record of scoring in every league game so far, taking his Mob tally to 13 in seven outings.

Joe McIntosh was also on target with Charlie Houghton and sub Martyn Phillips replying for Stubbington.

After this weekend’s clash with fourth-placed Burrfields, Portchester face Mob in a titanic tussle on November 7.

Meon Milton, though, are the only MSL side still protecting a 100 per cent record.

Daniel Gedling (3), Barry Jeans and Bayley Whitcombe netted in a 5-2 home win over Rowner Rovers - Meon’s sixth successive league win of the season.

Portchester are ahead of Meon on goal difference, having played a game more.