US Portsmouth extend amazing run against higher division opponents to equal club’s best-ever FA Vase run

Glenn Turnbull’s Wessex League Division 1 outfit equalled club history by beating Bournemouth Poppies to reach the second round of the FA Vase.

After falling behind to a fluke goal early on, US hit back to win 3-1 in a tie switched to AFC Portchester’s Crest Finance Stadium.

Remarkably, it was their SEVENTH victory against Wessex Premier Division opponents since football resumed in early August.

Pre-season wins against Baffins, Horndean and Cowes have been followed by Wessex League Cup successes against Tadley and Brockenhurst.

More impressively, US have also dumped Portchester and now Poppies out of the Vase to equal the club’s best run in the competition in 2014/15.

A 3-1 win might sound a relatively comfortable way to sign off ahead of a second national lockdown.

But, in truth, US could have won by a far bigger margin.

They fired in a ridiculous amount of shots in both halves, but apart from the goals only a couple of efforts actually tested keeper Sam Jones.

US began brightly, Harry Sargeant, Andrew Todd and Callum Glen all shooting wide before Todd fired straight at Jones.

Against the run of play, and with their first serious attack, Poppies took a lucky 12th minute lead.

There initially appeared little danger when Jack Kinge-Phillips gained possession just inside the left-hand touchline, but his cross sailed over keeper Tom Price and nestled into the foot of the net.

The hosts endured a sloppy period before peppering Poppies with a series of attacks, with playmaker James Franklyn three times shooting wide within five minutes.

US had to clear a Dan Seymour effort off the line, after Price had come out of his goal to clear with his feet, before US deservedly levelled on 33 minutes.

A quickly-taken free-kick was played to Seiden, who took a touch on the edge of the area before rifling a shot which Jones could only palm into the net.

Within four minutes, US were ahead - Franklyn playing in Todd, who had found some space 10 yards out, to drill a low shot past the keeper.

Had the tie been played last Friday, instead of being postponed due to a waterlogged Victory Stadium pitch, Todd would not have played.

Had this week’s inter-services championship not been subsequently cancelled due to the lockdown, again he wouldn’t have been available.

But thankfully for US he was – given that striker Tyler Moret was cup-tied - and the 37-year led the line well throughout.

The second half began with US remaining on the attack, right wing-back Jack Chandler’s shot deflected for a corner and Sonny Harnett-Balkwill heading onto the top of the bar from the resultant flag-kick.

Seiden saw a shot deflected for another corner before Poppies had an incredible let-off. Having cleared one effort off the line, the ball fell to Todd just a couple of yards out but his fierce shot was deflected onto the bar.

As US continued to press going down the slope, Seiden curled a shot just wide before Franklyn clinched victory just before the hour mark.

He got in behind the overworked Poppies defence to collect a pass and calmly stroke home his 13th league and cup goal of the season.

US have now banked £1,550 as a result of winning two Vase ties, with a further £900 up for grabs in the next round at home to Brockenhurst or Street.

But when that tie will actually be played remains down to the politicians and not the footballing authorities ...

USP: Price, Kyle, Chandler, Cain, Harnett-Balkwill, Birmingham, Sergeant, Glen, Franklyn, Todd, Seiden. Subs used: Hazell, Spencer, Pile.