‘They were the best team we’ve played this season’ – AFC Portchester’s FA Vase dream ended by Phoenix Sports

Following Erith & Belvedere’s 5-1 home loss to Tunbridge Wells, the Royals are now one of only two clubs in the top 10 tiers of the English pyramid yet to drop a league point in 2022/23.

After winning 10 successive Wessex League Premier matches, therefore, Portchester must have been hopeful of a decent FA Vase run.

But they suffered a 3-2 home first round defeat against Kent-based Phoenix Sports, who were playing in the Isthmian League last season.

Former Pompey striker Brett Pitman took his league and cup tally to 18 with both of his side’s consolations - the second one coming late on.

It was Portchester’s third successive home defeat, all in cups. They had previously lost in the Wessex League Cup to Baffins and to Brockenhurst in the Russell Cotes Cup.

The latest loss, though, would undoubtedly have hurt a lot more than the other two.

‘There were two good sides, it could have gone either way,’ rued Royals boss Dave Carter.

‘No disrespect to the others, but they were the best team we’ve played this season, and I include Sholing in that. They were well organised, they had a bit of everything.

‘I would imagine they’ve got a better squad than they had last season. You could tell they had players from a higher level. But I’m not complaining, we’ve got Brett Pitman, Elliott Wheeler …’

Carter felt his side should have had two ‘stonewall’ penalties, including one where debutant striker Scott Jones was bundled over.

Portchester also felt they could have had a corner from that incident, but instead Phoenix took a quick goal kick and went down the other end to take a 2-1 lead.

‘We didn’t get the rub of the green,’ said Carter. ‘We didn’t play as well as we could do, but they were hungrier to win the game.

‘Their third goal came from a mistake, but they got their rewards - you make your own luck in this game.

‘They were better than we thought - they had about five or six different players from when Gav (Spurway, Portchester assistant manager) went to see them play.’

Ashton Leigh was stretchered off in the second half against Phoenix with a knee injury. But Carter is still hopeful he will be available for Tuesday’s heavyweight Wessex League trip to Horndean.

Jones, meanwhile, has been signed after Ryan Pennery departed the On-Site Stadium last week.

The former Hawks and Chichester forward was a target of Carter’s back in the summer.

But the player was off to spend a few weeks in America - his wife is American - and his only action this season was two starts for Wessex 1 club Newport IoW.

At least he will have company when he comes over to the mainland - Wheeler also lives on the Isle of Wight.

‘After Ryan Pennery left, I thought we needed to get another striker in - two (Pitman and Harrison Brook) is not enough. Scott contacted us.’

Jones netted 27 goals in three seasons at Westleigh Park – 2011-12 to 2013/14 inclusive – while he was also a part of the Chichester City squad that reached the FA Cup second round in 2019/20.