TORPOINT ATHLETIC 0

PORTLAND UNITED 0

(Blues win 4-2 on pens)

PORTLAND United went through to the Isuzu FA Vase second round after overcoming Torpoint Athletic 4-2 on penalties.

Following a 0-0 draw and with Torpoint missing their fourth penalty, up stepped man of the moment Greg Borthwick to score the winning spot-kick.

Victory earned Portland £825 to boot and the Blues have now reached this stage for the first time since 2016, when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Glenn Howes’ Blackfield & Langley.

But hopes of a deeper run towards Wembley will now be looming large for Portland after overcoming one of the trickiest away draws possible.

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Portland had to travel more than 120 miles and faced a Torpoint side going strongly in the top half of the Western League Premier.

The Point emphasised just how difficult Portland’s task would be as keeper Harrison Bruton was forced into two flying stops to deny Ryan Richards.

Portland nearly responded with a blockbuster free-kick, Ryan McKechnie unleashing a missile against home keeper Ryan Rickard’s bar.

With the Blues now enjoying a purple patch, Ben Morris forced Rickard into a good save and from the resulting corner Borthwick’s header was cleared off the line by Darren Hicks.

A deluge of rain greeted the teams before half-time and Portland resumed by clearing a Torpoint corner off the line on an increasingly cut-up and heavy pitch.

Bruton survived a nervy moment 11 minutes from time as he made amends to block a shot after spilling a looping cross, before Shaun Bessant was sin-binned for dissent.

Seven minutes of added time were called for as Portland survived going one man light but neither side could be separated before the dreaded spot-kicks.

Torpoint were up first and Hicks scored before Jamie Symes netted, despite Rickard getting a touch, for 1-1.

Bruton then struck the crucial first blow as he saved Richards’ penalty before Blues’ captain Josh Williams tucked his into the top-right corner for 2-1 Portland.

Elliott Crawford and Jack Delves completed a clean round for the clubs before Louis Rooney skied a horrible penalty over the bar, opening the door for Borthwick.

And the in-form Portland striker did not disappoint, beating Rickard to spark a pitch invasion by the Portland bench and staff as the players ran to celebrate with Borthwick and Bruton in jubilant scenes.

Speaking to Echosport, Critchell said: “Greg got quite emotional at the end of the game and my emotions were just of absolute joy and proudness of how they managed and conducted themselves.

“To see them all celebrating and smiling, those moments are rare in football. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first round or final, that experience for some of them will hopefully live long in the memory.

“It was a game of many different facets and somehow we’ve managed to prevail. It was true grit and determination that got us over the line.

“Then, the penalties was a lottery but we showed composure and heart to win.”

Portland will find out their next opponents on Monday and Critchell admitted a home tie would be his preference.

He added: “A lot of the lads are wanting another away trip so they can get a nice night out!

“But I would obviously prefer a home game because it would draw our fans to us and hopefully we could have a chance of prevailing.”

Asked how far Portland can go in the Vase, Critchell replied: “I really don’t know.

“I know it’s the old cliché but we’ll just take it every game as it comes. You tick them off and I think we’re six wins away from Wembley now.

“We just need to enjoy ourselves and that allows us to put in our best performances when we’re playing with a smile on our faces.”

Portland return to league action on Saturday at home to Moneyfields (3pm).

Blues: Bruton, Harvey, Callow, Scott (Delves 61), Bessant, Symes, Wickham (Woolford 61), Williams, McKechnie (Gadsby 80), Borthwick, Morris. Subs not used: J Lucas, Stuttle, Coombs.