Portland United make the long trip to Hamble Club on Tuesday 10th February (7:45pm), picking up a fixture postponed from 6th December. Hamble is always a tough place to visit, and Portland know they will have to be at their very best if they are to leave with a positive result.

The hosts have had a season of highs and lows. Their 5,0 home demolition of Bournemouth on 24th January showed the attacking firepower they possess when everything clicks. But that confidence has been tempered by recent defeats: a 3-0 loss at AFC Stoneham on 31st January and a 3-1 setback to Millbrook in the SDFA Senior Cup on 7th February. Other fixtures haven’t gone to plan either, with the Premier Division clash against East Cowes Victoria on 7th February and a Velocity Wessex League Cup tie at Baffins Milton Rovers on 3rd February both postponed. It’s a side capable of brilliance but also vulnerable under pressure.

For Portland, the challenge is clear. They will need to remain disciplined at the back, sharp in midfield, and clinical in front of goal. Hamble’s home form makes them dangerous, particularly in tight moments when games are decided by a single lapse or moment of magic. Every ball will matter, every tackle will count, and the tension is likely to be high right to the final whistle.

A strong, organised display could see Portland snatch a precious point or even cause an upset, but they know they are walking into a hostile environment where mistakes are punished. Tuesday’s game promises drama, intensity, and the kind of test that could define the season for both sides.