USP given a big helping hand ...
Downton keeper sees red after gifting hosts a goal
Playmaker James Frankyln continued his record of scoring in every game in 2020/21 as US Portsmouth caned struggling Downton 5-1.
Striker Andy Todd also netted twice in the Wessex League Division 1 contest after Dec Seiden had converted an early penalty at a windy Victory Stadium.
But US were given a huge helping hand by visiting keeper Ernest Osei.
Having already gifted US their second goal in the first half, he was sent off just before the hour mark with his side only trailing 2-1.
Osei was shown a straight red for violent conduct after throwing the ball at Seiden on the grandstand side touchline.
Seiden had been trying to get the ball off the goalkeeper to take a quick throw-in, with Osei responding by chucking it at him at close range.
Seiden theatrically went down, but it was no surprise when Osei was dismissed - his needless antics costing his side any chance of points.
Without a sub keeper on the bench, Downton had to put outfielder Dan Telfer in goal.
Shortly after, US captain Tom Jeffes was booked for a foul right on the edge of his own penalty area, but the resultant free-kick hit the wall.
That was to be the last time Downton, who have now lost all five league and cup games in 2020/21, threatened.
Franklyn made it 3-1 a few minutes later, settling any nerves US might have harboured, and that was game over.
Todd netted his second 10 minutes from time, finishing off a nice passing move, and Franklyn ran through unchallenged in the closing stages to calmly sidefoot in his fifth goal of the season.
In the end it was a comfortable victory – and US could, possibly should, have had more goals.
Yet it was by no means a classic performance from the side that topped Wessex Division 1 when life went into lockdown, denying them almost certain promotion.
US had led 1-0 on 11 minutes, Seiden needlessly fouled in the area with his back to goal after receiving a pass from left wing-back Josh Hazell.
Seiden had missed his previous penalty - for Chichester in an FA Cup tie against Basingstoke - but he confidently converted the spotkick.
The lead was doubled on 17 minutes when Osei, trying to shepherd a misplaced Franklyn shot which had got caught in the wind out for a goal kick, was beaten to the ball by Todd. Though faced with a very tight angle, the striker did well to slide his shot into the net.
Downton’s afternoon was going from bad to worse when striker
Paul Gulliver was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes for dissent.
Yet it was the visitors who reacted better to going down to 10 men, reducing the arrears on 34 minutes through TJ Moseley’s shot from the edge of the area.
When Gulliver returned to restore numerical parity, Todd was clean through but shot against Osei’s legs.
US keeper Tom Price didn’t have a lot to do, with his sole save coming on 56 minutes from Diego Romero’s 20-yard shot.
A few minutes his opposite number had a rush of blood to the head and US were on course for their 12th home league win in 15 outings since the start of last season.