AFC Stoneham narrowly lost 3-2 away to table-toppers AFC Portchester, who extend their unbeaten run to 17 matches.

It was a lively start to the game, with both teams threatening in attacking positions and wanting to put balls into the box.

It was Portchester who opened the scoring just seven minutes in, after Jones’ cross took a few deflections and fell kindly to Marley Ridge, who smashed it in at the far post for his 10th of the season.

Stoneham responded brilliantly and found an equaliser just three minutes later courtesy of top-scorer Duarte Martins, who met a great ball in from Jim Orvis and headed the ball past Mowthorpe for his 25th goal in all competitions.

Portchester started to dominate the ball more during this period, always looking long to their wingers to try and get them in behind Stoneham’s fullbacks, but Dyer and Barnes dealt with the danger well.

In the 28th minute, Martins won Stoneham a penalty, after beating the defender to the ball and being brought down in the process.

Despite missing a penalty in the week, Captain Orvis stepped up to take it and this time there was no doubt about it, as he smashed the ball into the side netting and gave his side a 2-1 lead.

This lead lasted a total of one minute, after a quick attack from kick-off found the danger man Brett Pitman on the edge of the box, who flicked the ball over the Stoneham defence and was met by Scott Jones to tap it home and level the scoring again.

The home side really started to ramp up the pressure, but Stoneham did enough to limit their chances and forced them to go long.

However, the home side managed to break the Stoneham defence down in the 38th minute when Ridge slipped the ball through to Scott Jones, who shot low into the net to score his second successive brace and give the Royals the lead at half time.

HALF TIME: AFC PORTCHESTER 3-2 AFC STONEHAM

It was a sloppy start to the second half for both teams, but it was Stoneham who had the best chance, however goalkeeper Mowthorpe got down well to save a close range shot from Martins.

There weren’t many chances in the first 20 minutes of this half, with both teams trying to utilise crosses, but both defences headed them away quite comfortably.

The best chance of the half arrived in the 68th minute after a ball in the box from Cade Dyer, but Bainbridge’s header back across goal was saved at full stretch by Mowthorpe, who tipped it past the post.

Mowthorpe yet again saved another effort, blocking Clements from getting an equaliser and putting on a man of the match display.

It was an end-to-end last 10 minutes, but Portchester did enough to see out the game, leaving the second half goalless, but the final result 3-2.

Overall, Stoneham manager James Phillips was pleased with his side’s performance although disappointed to lose

“The physical effort we put in was outstanding. Yes, we are disappointed to have lost but we have to take a lot of positives out of that. The important thing is to do that again in the next couple of games.”

AFC Portchester Starting XI:Mowthorpe, Wheeler, Williamson, Raine, Da Costa, Pearce, Cowan, Pitman (c), Ridge, Jones, Robinson

Subs: Bailey, Wilkins, Barker, Searle, Brook

AFC Stoneham Starting XI:Parker-Trott, Barnes, Dyer, Evans, Ovington, Clarke, Bainbridge, Orvis (c), Martins, Clements, Hills

Subs: McNulty, Callaghan, Thomson, Cleary, Nagle.

By Freddie Dorman