Royals see top-four hopes dented

AFC PORTCHESTER had their hopes of a top-four Wessex League premier division finish dented by a disappointing 1-0 home defeat against Shaftesbury.
Steve Ramsey went close for AFC PortchesterSteve Ramsey went close for AFC Portchester
Steve Ramsey went close for AFC Portchester

The Royals missed out on the chance to overhaul fourth-placed Hamworthy who remain two points ahead with one game left to play.

On 10 minutes Steve Ramsey went close to scoring for the Royals.

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He fired a well-struck shot that was saved by the visiting goalkeeper.

Shaftesbury replied in kind a minute later with home goalkeeper Lewis Noice doing well to keep out a thunderous strike from the edge of the area.

Dan Wooden went close twice in the space of a minute for the home side.

His long-range shot was turned behind and from the resulting corner he poked the ball over the top.

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A minute before the break a far post header from Nathan Kirby was kept out by a superb save.

There was little to choose between the two sides as the first half ended goalless.

On 58 minutes it took a terrific save from Noice to keep the Royals level.

Five minutes later at the other end Dale Mason was foiled by an excellent double-save.

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The visitors broke the deadlock on 66 minutes when the home side were caught out by a back-post header.

Ramsey went close to an immediate equaliser but his shot trickled past the upright.

Dale Mason also went close with a curling effort that narrowly missed the upright.

AFC Portchester: Noice, Stone, Searle, Birmingham, Evans, Ramsey, Bye, Morgan, Mason, Wooden, Kirby. Subs: Buckland, C Scott, B Scott, Warren, Page

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Horndean closed the gap on AFC Portchester with an emphatic 3-1 win at Hamble Club.

Michael Birmingham’s side moved to within a point of the Royals.

Two first-half goals from Miles Everett set Horndean on their way to victory.

Harry Jackson added a third goal on 55 minutes with a good shot into the bottom far corner of the net.

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Though Hamble pulled a goal back on the hour mark the visitors ran out comfortable winners.

Fareham Town were crushed 5-0 by title-chasing Blackfield & Langley at Cams Alders.

The Reds conceded two first-half penalties after falling behind in the opening five minutes.

An own goal at the start of the second half and a Sami Makhloufi goal completed the misery.

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Petersfield Town ended their season with a 2-2 draw at fellow strugglers Newport IW.

Billy Connor and Will Essai scored for the Rams.

Paulsgrove recorded an emphatic 4-0 win at Clanfield in the Hampshire Premier League senior division.

Jimmy Hird, Aaron Fennemore, Tommy Woodward and Danny Lane got the goals.

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