Strike ace reigniting Royals push for title
Jason Parish has hit goalscoring form for Portchester in recent games
The return to form of Jason Parish has helped AFC Portchester reignite their Wessex Premier promotion bid.
The striker had struck seven times in as many appearances for Baffins Milton Rovers prior to rejoining the Royals in October.
Parish then promptly struck an FA Vase winner on his Portchester debut at Devonians Cullompton.
But that was his only goal in his first nine league outings for the Royals prior to the win over Baffins last weekend.
Parish duly grabbed a hattrick and followed that up with a double in Tuesday’s 3-0 win at nine-man Horndean.
He will look to continue that run against Hamworthy United at the Crest Finance Stadium on Saturday.
‘Jason has started to show the sort of form we are going to need if we are to make a serious challenge,’ said Royals boss Mick Catlin.
‘We brought him over from Baffins to score goals.
‘He scored a couple early on but then picked up an ankle injury.
‘The last couple of games have been the first when he has been able to play pain free.
‘That has shown in his performances and it couldn't have arrived at a better time.
‘He has always worked hard and now he is starting to get the rewards.
‘At Horndean, he showed his range with two different types of goal
Parish certainly has Wessex form. Last season, he struck 27 goals in all competitions for Baffins - including 19 in 33 league appearances.
And in his first spell at Portchester in 2015/16, he netted 28 times - including 19 in 29 Wessex Premier outings.
With their next two games at home - Christchurch visit on February 15 - Catlin's side are hoping to apply even more pressure on the top sides.
‘We have got two massive home games and if we can win both, it will turn up the pressure on Alresford and Stoneham,’ he added.
Portchester will certainly close the gap on one or both of the top two this weekend with a fourth straight victory as leaders Stoneham host second-placed Alresford. The Royals are without defender Ollie Searle, who was hit on the temple by a fierce shot during the first half at Horndean and had to come off with concussion.
Jason Parish netted 27 times in all competitions for Baffins last season
Catlin is hoping to have influential forward Aaron Baldacchino back from his hamstring injury, while midfielder Sam Lanahan is also on his way back from a similar injury.
Centre-half Jordan Rose is again available, having played the last two games, but the final game of his Blackfield suspension is this weekend.
Catlin is unsure whether the Southern Leaguers will recall him after that.