Image: Michelle Carr.
Match Report: Dave Ring
Portland United 3-2 Exmouth Town
Southern League Division One South
Tuesday 13th October 2026 – 7:45pm
Camp & Satherley Stadium
Portland United returned to winning ways in spectacular fashion at Camp & Satherley Stadium, as Greg Borthwick’s late thunderbolt settled a pulsating five-goal encounter against Exmouth Town and sent the Blues faithful home with plenty to cheer.
In a game packed with attacking football, drama and late twists, Portland twice threatened to run away with the contest, only for a spirited Exmouth side to fight their way back into contention. But when the pressure was at its highest, Borthwick delivered the decisive blow, firing home six minutes from time to secure three precious Southern League Division One South points.
Kyle Critchell made three changes from Saturday’s 4–0 defeat to Sporting Club Inkberrow, with Archie Woolford, Hayden Scott and Josh Camp coming into the starting eleven in place of Pat Jenkins, Jamie Cleaver and Tom Peach.
The Blues started brightly and almost struck inside the opening three minutes. Jack Delves released Harry Brook down the flank, and Brook drove forward before pulling the ball back towards Woolford, whose effort was blocked by the visiting defence. Woolford was involved again moments later after Scott won possession in midfield, but his subsequent attempt was also kept out.
At the other end, Toby Stainer-Reid was quickly called into action as Exmouth threatened to break through, the Portland goalkeeper showing good awareness to race off his line and snuff out the danger.
Portland were beginning to find their rhythm, however, and the breakthrough arrived in the 17th minute following a beautifully constructed move. Woolford beat his man before delivering a dangerous ball into the area, where Brook rose to head across goal. Remus Nixon was perfectly placed to take a touch before confidently firing into the net to put the Blues in front.
The hosts were in full flow, and nine minutes later they doubled their advantage with another superb piece of attacking play. Woolford combined neatly with Nixon, who finished clinically into the bottom corner to register his second of the afternoon and send Portland firmly in control at 2–0.
But football rarely follows the script, and Exmouth wasted little time in reminding the Blues that the contest was far from over. Straight from the restart, Alex Cairo struck to halve the deficit in the 27th minute, immediately breathing new life into the visitors’ challenge.
The goal sparked a frantic spell of end-to-end football. Portland looked to restore their two-goal cushion, with Jacob Coombs meeting a Jack Delves corner shortly after the half-hour mark, while Exmouth squandered a golden opportunity to draw level when a forward somehow fired over from just five yards out.
It was breathless stuff at Camp & Satherley, but Portland held firm to take a narrow 2–1 advantage into the interval.
The second half continued in the same competitive vein. Nixon went searching for his hat-trick in the 58th minute, sending an effort narrowly wide, while Exmouth pushed hard for an equaliser and forced Stainer-Reid into a couple of important saves to keep the Blues in front.
Portland thought they had finally put daylight between the sides in the 71st minute. Pat Jenkins tested Exmouth goalkeeper Matt Wonnacott, and Borthwick reacted quickest to the rebound to force the ball home. Unfortunately for the Blues, the effort was ruled out, with the referee judging that the ball had been taken from the goalkeeper’s hands.
It was a frustrating moment for Portland, and the tension increased as the clock ticked towards full-time. With the Blues seemingly on course to see out a hard-fought victory, Exmouth struck again in the 82nd minute, Louis Slater finding the net to bring the visitors level at 2–2 and set up a grandstand finish.
But Portland had one final answer, and it came from a familiar source.
Just two minutes after Exmouth’s equaliser, Borthwick stepped up when it mattered most. Picking up the ball on the edge of the penalty area, the Portland frontman unleashed a superb strike that flew into the net, sending the home crowd into raptures and restoring the Blues’ lead at 3–2.
This time, there was no way back for Exmouth. Portland held on through the closing stages to claim a dramatic victory, ending their run of back-to-back defeats and earning a welcome boost as they moved up to 10th place in the Southern League Division One South.
Two goals from the clinical Nixon laid the foundations, but it was Borthwick’s late intervention that provided the grand finale. In a contest that had everything, the Blues showed the character and attacking quality needed to turn a difficult evening into a memorable three points.
Next up for Portland is a trip to Tiverton Town on Saturday, where Critchell’s men will look to build on this hard-earned victory and carry their renewed momentum into the next challenge.
FT: Portland United 3-2 Exmouth Town
Portland United: Stainer-Reid, Coombs, Streams (Peach 77), Scott, Corbridge, Gadsby, Brook (Jenkins 54), Delves (Cleaver 51), Nixon, Camp (Bent 70), Woolford (Borthwick 70).
Exmouth Town: Wonnacott, Harris, Cann (Battle 88), Knowles, Landricombe, Denny, Shipton (Slater 77, Caro, High (Steer 59), Chastey (Kraus 90), Wright.
