Wells City humbled by Portishead Town after poor first-half display

Wells City were left with their tails between their legs as Portishead Town produced a dominant display to comfortably beat the away side in the league for a second time this season.

The visitors went into the game with the aim of avenging their 4-0 home defeat against the same opposition in August, but a dire first half display left Wells with too much to do against Town.

The loss of Jake Brown through injury was always likely to be a burden for City, but they only showed the odd glimpse of why they have made such a good start to the season.

Following a bright opening 15 minutes from the away side, Portishead started to create chances as Ollie Trevarthen lifted a shot over the Wells crossbar from 12 yards, before missing a gilt-edged chance from just a yard out after Wells keeper Will Justin flapped at a deep cross from James Griffiths.

Slack defending again from Wells on 17 minutes saw Portishead take the lead as Griffiths was given far too much freedom down the right channel again and had time to pick his spot before guiding the ball wide of Justin's right hand and into the far corner of the net.

Portishead's midfield dominance continued to cause City problems and Trevarthen went close again when he was denied a goal by a Mike Grist goal-line clearance.

Justin then did well to parry yet another Trevarthen effort on the turn, but the keeper was soon found wanting as he dropped the simplest of efforts at the feet of Trevarthen, who walked the ball into an empty net.

It ended Wells City's worst first-half display of the season and while the introduction of Charlie Crook for the injured Leon Britton helped improve the away side's midfield, the fight-back was never to materialise.

Debutant striker Nathan Rendell was being starved of any service and it was Portishead who added a third goal on 70 minutes, when Trevarthen outpaced Jamie Price and placed the ball past the left hand of a despairing dive from Justin.

Town came close to replicating their away defeat of Wells after Callum Townsend's trickery saw him side step two defenders and send a dipping effort inches over the crossbar, before the same player dragged another effort just wide in the final minutes.

Portishead could have easily doubled their tally by the end and the result left Wells to reflect on another disastrous display against what are quickly becoming a bogey side for them.