Volunteers praised for pitch work as AFC Portchester edge seven-goal thriller on 'odd' afternoon against Solent University

Apart from the game on the 3G surface at Hamworthy - they beat Shaftesbury 4-1 - it was the only Wessex Premier game to escape the ravages of Storm Jorge.

The Royals were rewarded for their efforts with a thrilling 4-3 win against the students and a valuable three points in their bid to chase down the top two.

Portchester manager Mick Catlin praised the volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure the game went ahead.

‘Fans and committee members had to work hard on the pitch all morning,’ said Catlin.

‘When we arrived there was a lot of standing water on the pitch.

‘We had to get rid of that and sanded a large area in the middle.

‘The referee was happy with it and the main problem proved to be the blustery wind blowing straight down the pitch.’

Catlin also admitted it was a strange day all round because technically it was a home fixture for Solent University.

The students have drainage problems at their Test Park ground and the league ordered them to switch their next four home games to opposition grounds.

‘It was odd because as the away team we used the away changing room, the away team dugout and played in our away kit,’ added Catlin.

‘The situation was very weird.

‘We tried to make things as normal as possible.

‘I know the Solent University manager James Taylor felt a bit aggrieved about the whole thing.

‘It is strange that they are the only team in the league forced to do this when there are others that have played less games.

‘It was obvious that they would try to use feeling aggrieved to their advantage and create a bit of a siege mentality.’

In the end, the students could rightly feel a little unlucky that they didn't get anything from a ding-dong struggle.

They took the lead with a stunning strike early on before the Royals pegged them back with a scrambled equaliser by Sam Lanahan.

The Royals found themselves behind again before the break after losing possession at a short corner led to Solent breaking and scoring at the other end.

At the start of the second half, Portchester wrested back the initiative with two quick goals.

Captain Rob Evans equalised with a shot from the edge of the area before Jason Parish netted his eighth goal of the season after firing home Patrik Hnath's pinpoint cross.

Portchester's joy was short-lived, however, as the students hit back to level again straight from the restart.

There was to be late drama with Ellis Martin slotting home from the spot after Dan Wooden had been upended in the area.

Right at the death, Craig Hardy produced a remarkable scissor-kick clearance from under his own crossbar to keep the Royals in front.

The win enabled third-placed Portchester to close the gap on leaders AFC Stoneham to seven points with two games in hand.

And Catlin believes the title chase is likely to go to the wire.

‘We won't give up until it is mathematically impossible,’ said Catlin.

‘The way the weather has been, it won't all be about playing football.

‘It will be about adapting and grinding out results which is something we have been doing recently.’