PORLOCK maintained their 100 per cent winning start to the 2023-24 season when they beat North Petherton 3-2 at home in the Premier Division of the Taunton & District Saturday Football League.

At the end of a tough and keenly contested match it was the home side who ran out the winners, a result which sees them climb into second place, six points behind the leaders, but with three games in hand on the team above them.

Right from the very first whistle the Robins took control, pressing the opposition into mistakes which were punished in the first half.

It was Porlock who took the lead after a cross from the left landed at Jack Evans’ feet and he smashed the ball past the keeper at the near post. More chances came and went, and soon the home side extended their lead, making it 2-0 after some composed play down the left, resulting in Jari High skinning the fullback to cross for Harry Scatchard to nip in front on the keeper, steal the ball and tap in.

Being two goals in arrears North Petherton were at sixes and sevens and were glad when the half time whistle came which gave them a chance to mull over the opening 45 minutes and regroup.

The second half started and within the first 15 minutes the hosts went further ahead. A defensive mix up led to Olly Morris nipping in past the keeper and slotting into an empty net.

The game then became scrappy and some questionable refereeing decisions allowed Pethy back into the game. A penalty was conceded with Ryan Parsons and their striker battling for a long ball in the box resulted in a 'harsh' decision. The spot kick was cooly converted bringing the scores to 3-1 with less than quarter of an hour left to play.

With the clock ticking away and being two goals in arrears the visitors then gambled, leaving men forward sensing a late second which duly came as the same player rounded the keeper to put the ball in the net.

Porlock re-grouped and stood firm to win 3-2 in what in the end was a fairly one sided affair. This was another fantastic win for the Robins who are looking sharp and really playing with such togetherness. The Man of the Match was shared jointly between Ollie Morris who looked tidy in centre midfield and the slender Chris James who won everything at centre back.

The Porlock team was :Adam Langdon, Gav Paviour, Ryan Parsons, James Taylor, Chris James, Jack Evans , Zac Brown, Daniel Anthony, Leonard Crooks, Darren Sherring, Chris Barrett , Harry Scatchard , Ollie Morris , Jari High and Leigh Knowles.