AFC Stoneham end Portchester’s unbeaten league run of 23 games without a loss as they beat them 2-1 in a fiercely competitive encounter that had two penalties and a red card.

ThePurps kept up their streak of winning every league game at Stoneham Lane this season, whilst being the first team in the division to take all three points off the league leaders.

Stoneham took a two-goal lead thanks to Duarte Martins and a Liam Callaghan penalty, given when a Portchester player produced a Luis Suarez-esque handball on the line, getting himself sent off in the process.

The uncharacteristically quiet Brett Pitman did slot home a penalty later in the game, but the 10-men of Portchester couldn’t get past the resilient Stoneham defence, meaning that they went home for the first time this season without anything.

It was a tense start to the game from the top two, with neither team managing to keep hold of the ball, but it was the away side who looked long in the opening stages, only to be met by the linesman’s flag on numerous occasions.

The left-hand side for Stoneham was their outlet in the early minutes, with a notable effort coming from a brilliant Cade Dyer cross, but the fully stretched Callaghan couldn’t quite turn the ball goal wards.

Martins also found himself two-on-one early on, with Callaghan in support, but his pass across goal to him had too much on it and the opportunity was wasted.

However, following good link up play between Scott Hills and Dyer, the ball arrived at the feet of Martins on the penalty spot, who found the bottom-right corner for his 32nd goal of the season.

The away side could and probably should have levelled the scoring just before half time when the ball found the dangerous Brett Pitman at the back post, but thePurps were let off big time as his shot went high and wide.

HALF TIME: AFC Stoneham 1-0 AFC Portchester

There were no changes for either side at the break and the second half started with the Royals pinning Stoneham back and probing for an equaliser.

But the persistent pressure from the away side did leave them vulnerable at the back and the Purps capitalised on this, when Steven Mowthorpe failed to collect the ball and Callaghan’s header was handballed on the line, winning his side a penalty and Pearce receiving a straight red.

The man who won the penalty also took it and following a stutter on the run up, he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and gave Stoneham a two-goal lead.

Despite the red card, it was Portchester who dominated the rest of the second half as they looked to find a way back into this game and preserve their unbeaten record.

It didn’t take too long for the league leaders to respond either as they won a penalty of their own after the referee spotted a handball in the box.

Brett Pitman stepped up to take the penalty and smashed it past Callum Lee for his 39th goal of the season, making it a very nervy last 20 minutes for the home side.

Substitute Lewis Nagle was causing huge problems for the Portchester defence during the latter stages, with the winger being fouled on multiple times as he looked to counter-attack and give his defence a breather.

The referee added on 5 minutes as the Purps kept the ball in the corner and ran down the clock- a very professional end to the game from a very classy group of players.

Portchester’s first loss means that Stoneham are now only four points behind them with 13 games remaining, making the final stage of this season one to keep your eye on.

FULL TIME: AFC Stoneham 2-1 AFC Portchester

AFC Stoneham Starting XI: Lee; Barnes, Wan, Clarke, Dyer; Bainbridge, Welch, Orvis (c); Callaghan, Martins, Hills

Subs: Thomson, Clements, Ovington, Ross, Nagle

AFC Portchester Starting XI:Mowthorpe; Wheeler, Bailey, Woodford, Da Costa, Pearce, Cowan, Pitman (c), Ridge, Jones, Wilkins

Subs: Barber, Brook, Raine, Williamson, Robinson

By Freddie Dorman