An attendance of 748 were at The On-Site Group Stadium on a freezing cold Saturday afternoon on the 27th of December to witness the local clash between AFC Portchester and Horndean FC. A raucous crowd were eager to get their fix of Christmas football.

Horndean came into the match in fine form, winning their last two matches, and now found themselves in a better position to get out of the relegation zone. A result against Portchester would be the perfect Christmas present for The Deans faithful, and they were in for a cracker.

Deans number 10, Ralph Anelay, started the game with an injection of pace and energy. In the fourth minute he made a great run down the right flank, beating his opponent and won a corner. Unfortunately, Horndean couldn’t capitalise on the set piece.

Three minutes later, Amadou Jallow won the ball in the air in his own box and went on a marauding run through the midfield. He passed the ball off to Anelay on the right-hand side, producing another fantastic run, he cut in and tried to channel his inner Quaresma and tried a trivela shot from a tight angle that went just over the crossbar.

Portchester had their first attempt on goal on the 13th minute. Their skipper Jim Cowan tried his luck from range, but didn’t trouble Myles Bowman.

Jallow was playing the role of playmaker again 19 minutes in. A long ball found Ewan Lynch down the left, he held it up and skinned his defender, he put in a great cross into the six-yard box that was just missed by Anelay. Horndean were piling on the pressure.

Taylor Crook was impressive in the early stages of the game. He was man-marking former Deans player Zak Willett and didn’t let him have a sniff. Crook crossed the ball in on the 23rd minute that saw a scramble in the box, Henry McDonald managed to get hold of the ball and blasted a shot that was blocked well.

Portchester’s number 11, Josh Clack, had a great opportunity to put them ahead in the 31st minute. A route one ball beat the defence and was left one-on-one with Bowman, Clack side-footed it way wide. A real let off for The Deans.

Rob Taw was the first to be shown a card. He pulled down Anelay in the 36th when he was making another one of his great runs.

A minute later, Jake Flannigan had a great attempt from range that tested the gloves of Cameron Scott.

Seconds after the shot, another Portchester player was cautioned. Spencer Spurway was brandished a yellow after pulling down Crook.

Two minutes before the break, The Deans open the scoring! Lynch won the ball high up the right side of the pitch, he put in a fantastic cross across the surface which found Ryan Carroll at the back stick to tap it home.

Half-time: 0-1 Horndean.

Anelay was back at it again in the second half. McDonald played a superb lobbed through ball into him in the 47th minute and had a strike from an awkward angle that was well stopped by Scott.

Leon Baker-Neto was next to test the keeper. 52 minutes in he produced a beautiful bit of skill in the centre of the pitch that beat his man, he took on a long-range effort from 35 yards out that was saved by Scott.

Just three minutes later, Portchester level the scoring. An absolute screamer from miles out from Spurway found the top left corner of Bowman’s net. No keeper was saving that. 1-1.

The Deans had two chances in quick succession a few minutes after the goal. Mikey O’Connell had an opportunity that went agonisingly wide. McDonald played another terrific through ball into Anelay who bought yet another save from Scott.

Spurway then tried to double his tally for the afternoon in the 62nd minute but Bowman pulled out a good stop.

Ryan Pennery found himself free in the box seven minutes later from a Portchester corner and thought he scored from his header, but Bowman was there to stifle his effort.

Cowan saw a yellow card a minute later after fouling Flannigan.

The first substitute for Horndean was in the 73rd minute. The goalscorer Carroll was replaced by Lewis Olajide.

Portchester were piling on the pressure in the final 10 minutes of the half, but Horndean had a great opportunity in the 81st minute. A tussle in the box after a Deans corner saw multiple blocked shots and saves, and the ball ended up just wide of the post.

In the 83rd minute, Portchester launched a counterattack. Alfie Stanley found himself in space on the left wing, he cut in beating multiple defenders, he took a strike at goal from just outside the box, the shot was deflected and Bowman made the best save of the tie. The ball bounced in front of him, but he still managed to get a glove on it. A potential point-saving save.

The second, and final substitute for Horndean came in the 88th minute when Ewan Lynch was replaced by Archie Sheppard.

More drama for the referee occurred in the third minute of stoppage time. Portchester’s Tommy Scutt was sent off after a reckless challenge on McDonald.

Olajide had the final chance of the game in the 98th minute. The substitute saw space open up for him and decided to have a shot from distance, but it ended up being easy pickings for the keeper.

The game finished 1-1. Honors even. A lively game and the anticipation of the match certainly paid off. A good showing from Horndean, the defence were outstanding and were only ever going to concede to the extraordinary. It’s Bognor Regis Town next for The Deans, and they will be looking to take all three points on the road.

Cover photo by Nathan Lipsham