O'Donnell double sends Brockenhurst FC top in win over US Portsmouth

Wessex Premier

Brockenhurst FC 4
US Portsmouth 1

BROCKENHURST regained the league's top spot after a resounding 4-1 home victory over US Portsmouth at the Meadens Skoda Arena.

With Horndean losing, the Badgers seized their chance through a Kieran O'Donnell brace, with goals from Connor Ings and Silvano Obeng cancelling the visitors' early opener.

The hosts made a bright start, and they almost took the lead after six minutes when Joe Chamberlain put the ball on a plate for Obeng, who could only head over from six yards.

Against the run of play, US Portsmouth surprised Pat McManus' men to take the lead after a brilliant individual effort from Tom Dinsmore.

The goal sparked the Badgers into life, and they laid siege to the visitors' goal with such intensity it appeared they had an extra player on the pitch.

After the half-hour mark, O'Donnell equalised with a brilliant lobbed effort from 35 yards out after the keeper failed to deal with a long ball over the top while under pressure from Christie Ward.

With half-time three minutes away, Matt Sheedy released Ings who showed tremendous composure to slide the ball under Dylan Kramer.

The hosts continued to dominate after the break, and Obeng went close with a chance he should have taken, before Ward fired over with a spectacular overhead kick.

However, Obeng had the last laugh when he converted after Alex Haynes' brilliant header back across the goalmouth in the 68th minute.

With 20 minutes left, player-of-the-match O'Donnell showed his improving heading technique by nodding in Ward's cross to make it 4-1.

Brockenhurst: J. Mayo, C. Ings, P. Wilson, S. Yang, J. Smith, J. Chamberlain, K. O'Donnell, A. Haynes, S. Obeng, C. Ward, M. Sheedy. Subs: M. Taylor, J. Stacey, R. Moore, M. Speechley-Price, L. Simpson.