Port fall at the semi-final hurdle against Rayners
Holyport were beaten 4-0 by Rayners Lane in Saturday's Combined Counties Premier Division North play-off semifinal, but it can't take the gloss off what's been a historic season for Sam Lock and his players.
Port were only guaranteed their place in the play-offs on Thursday last week, when rivals Burnham failed to win away at Hilltop, but they fell at the first play-off hurdle against a strong and experienced Rayners Lane side, who went on to claim the league's second promotion spot in midweek.
Having held their hosts for much of the first half, Rayners Lane took the lead when Troy Perez-Duah found Frank Keita on the edge of the box, and he picked out the bottom corner with a low shot.
Port were still in the contest when the sides came off at half-time, but a second goal early in the second half gave the hosts a grip of the game they were never likely to relinquish. Again, it was Keita who scored it, firing home coolly from the penalty spot after Hassan Jalloh was fouled when through on goal.
Rayners then put the tie firmly to bed in the closing stages with Bradley Clayton squaring for Elliott Buchanan to fire home from close range for a third, and their fourth arrived when Rio Connell slid the ball across the area for Buchanan to score his second of the game.
Having finished only five points behind champions Flackwell Heath, and 29 points ahead of Holyport in fifth, Rayners were always firm favourites to progress to the final, especially on their own patch.
But Port should be so proud of the season they've had. These players have guided the club its highest ever league finish, while an incredible second half to the campaign saw them climb from 14th in the table to fifth.
First team coach, Matt Standard, who has also stepped down from his role following the end of the season, stressed that this result couldn't and shouldn't distract from what the club have achieved.
“It's been fantastic,” he said. “The result today didn't go our way, but it can't detract from what the boys have achieved this season. We were expected at the start of the season to go down, and to be fighting at the bottom of the table. So, to finish fifth with the group we've developed, I'm so, so proud of these boys. They're unbelievable.”
On the team's prospects, he added: “Who knows? I'd like to think a few of us will get up for Tuesday and come and see the final, see who goes up. But we'll see, it's going to be an interesting few weeks.
“It's a fantastic group, a great bunch of lads and it would be good to try and keep as many of them together as we can but we're realistic. The boys have achieved incredible things and I expect some of them to go on to bigger and better things. But whatever happens, happens, it's going to be an interesting summer.
“We played Ardley and were in that final spot. But Burnham could have taken it off us on Thursday. But up until Thursday, we didn't even know if we would be here, so the preparation for this game wasn't fantastic, but the lads have given it everything and I can't fault them at all.”