US Portsmouth smack Portsmouth 2nds for six for the second time this season in the Hampshire League

Callum Stoyles of US Portsmouth, left, and Portsmouth 2nds' Ben Lawford. Picture: Vernon Nash

USP followed up a 6-3 home win on October 19 with a 6-0 romp at Furze Lane - their 12th win in 14 league matches.

They remain six points behind Fleet & Ewshot, but with a game in hand. Against that, though, is the fact that Fleet have a much better goal difference - plus 68 compared to USP’s plus 45.

Fleet visit Burnaby Road this weekend having won 14 of their 15 games so far. The only time they didn’t win was a 1-1 home draw against USP.

Portsmouth 2nds' Ben Lawford and US Portsmouth pair Jamie Martin and Ben Hickman. Picture: Vernon Nash

Michael Pugh netted twice in USP’s October win against their city rivals, and he repeated the feat again at the weekend.

Tim Mallett also struck twice with Mike Hookway and Tom Miller completing the half-dozen haul for their seventh straight league win.

US took the lead via a penalty corner in the first 10 minutes.

After that, Portsmouth enjoyed some good attacking runs from Harry Hellyer and Ivan Boswell.

Portsmouth 2nds' Tom Love, right, in possession against US Portsmouth. Picture: Vernon Nash

But they were unable to find a leveller and conceded again from a short corner just before half-time.

Portsmouth’s man of the match award went to Ben Lawford for his hard work in the midfield.

Gosport, who had also lost 6-0 to US Portsmouth the previous week, crashed to a 4-0 home loss to Southampton 2nds.

Portsmouth 1sts survived a spell with just nine players to ensure Old Cranleighans failed to close the gap on them in Hampshire/Surrey Regional 2.

Goalmouth action from Portsmouth 2nds' 6-0 loss to US Portsmouth. Picture: Vernon Nash

The game started with second-placed Portsmouth five points ahead of their third-placed hosts, and a 2-2 draw kept the status quo intact.

After OCs had failed to take advantage of winning multiple short corners, a quick break from Rob Hunt found Luke Parsons at the far post to give Portsmouth the lead.

OCs squeezed in an equaliser from a controversial short corner just before half-time and took the lead after the restart.

As things became frantic, Portsmouth were briefly reduced to nine men but OCs failed to capitalise.

Back to full manpower, Pete Hayward rescued a point for Portsmouth by levelling from a short corner.