PORLOCK eased their relegation fears with a hard-fought 2-1 home win over fellow Division Two strugglers Civil Service on Saturday.
In the early stages both teams struggled to find any rhythm, although the visitors created the better chances in the opening 20 minutes and should have taken the lead.
The remainder of the half saw Porlock coming more into the game but it was still goalless when half-time arrived.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first as both midfields battled for control, and it wasn't until the 70th minute that the game finally came alive.
Paul Matravers was adjudged to have fouled a Civil Service midfielder in the penalty area and the visitors went ahead from the resulting spotkick, although keeper Dave Farmer almost saved it, getting a hand to it but not quite managing to prevent it going in.
This stirred Porlock and after an inspired double substitution, Addicott and Plenty coming on for Gunn and Southey, they grabbed an equaliser when a Greg Howard free-kick caught the keeper out of position.
They put the visitors under increasing pressure and scored the winner when Howard got his second of the day, an attempted clearance rebounding off him whilst on the ground and ending up in the net.
Civil Service's miserable day was completed in the last minute when their keeper was sent off for foul and abusive language.
Porlock: D Farmer, R Southey, P Matravers, I Cape, D Healey, M Healey, T Howard, M Gunn, G Howard, P Long, R Rich, subs S Plenty, R Addicott (both used).
In the same division, Dulverton Town consolidated their fourth place in the table with a 2-0 win over Bishops Lydeard Reserves - their fifth away win of the season.
Lydeard had Town pinned in their own half for the first 15 minutes but then, against the run of play, Tom Buckingham scored at the near post.
Dulverton now took charge but failed to convert a number of chances before the break, and the second half continued in much the same vein with Town pushing for a second goal.
Steve Ridler replaced Buckingham and made an immediate impact, running rings round the Lydeard defence whenever he got the ball.
With 15 minutes to go, he picked up the ball just inside the Lydeard half and beat three men before slamming the ball home to seal the points.
Division One saw Lydeard's first team thump Redgate 5-0 away.
In Division Four, Dulverton Town Reserves lost 7-3 away to Hemyock.
In Division Five, Minehead Sports Colts recorded their first win, 2-1 at home to Nether Stowey Reserves, but Porlock Reserves lost 4-3 away to Cossington.
Cossington had most of the play in the first half and opened up a 2-0 lead, but some positional changes at half-time saw an improved Porlock side taking the game to the hosts.
Good play by S Arnold and Jamie Callary set up a goal for Chris Carr, then a superb pass by Arnold released T Raynor for the equaliser.
Cossington regained the lead but good play by the midfield gave Carr the chance to level the scores again at 3-3.
However, with five minutes left the home side netted their fourth goal and there was no way back for Porlock in the time remaining.
Porlock Reserves: V Jones, S Arnold, M Sully, N Binding, K Ackland, P Swallow, C Carr, T Raynor, J Callary, T Ollerenshaw, V Huish, sub L Hardick.
The preliminary round of the Gardner Cup saw Division Four side Williton score an impressive 5-3 win away to Crown Dynamos from the division above them.
Also through are Stogursey, 3-1 winners at Brandon, but Exmoor Rangers went down 6-1 away to Staplegrove Reserves.
Nether Stowey went through to the third round of the Rowbarton Charity Cup by virtue of a golden goal after they had finished 2-2 after 90 minutes at home to Highbridge. In the same competition, Minehead Colts conceded their match away to Middlezoy.
RESULTS
League Knockout Cup Semi-finals: Sydenham 6 Wyvern 1, Wellworthy Saints 4 Galmington 5.
Gardner Cup Preliminary Round: Brandon 1 Stogursey 3, Crown Dynamos 3 Williton 5, Inter-Sceptre 2 Appletree 6, Staplegrove Res 6 Exmoor Rangers 1, Wyvern Res 4 Bridgwater Forester 2 (aet), Wyvern Foxes 2 Wellington 2 (aet, Wellington won 4-2 on penalties).
Rowbarton Charity Cup 2nd Round: Nether Stowey 3 Highbridge 2 (golden goal), Knight Rangers 4 Sampford Blues 0, Middlezoy w/o Minehead Sports.
Division One: Norton Fitzwarren 1 Bridgwater Sports 3, Redgate 0 Bishops Lydeard 5.
Division Two: Bishops Lydeard Res 0 Dulverton Town 2, Porlock 2 Civil Service 1.
Division Three: Hulan 0 Victoria Park Rangers 0, Marketeers 7 Westonzoyland 0.
Division Four: Hemyock 7 Dulverton Town Res 3, Taverners 7 Highbridge Res 3.
Division Five: Cossington 4 Porlock Res 3, Minehead Sports Colts 2 Nether Stowey Res 1, Moortown 0 Middlezoy Res 2.
FIXTURES
Somerset Junior Cup 4th Round: Brislington B v Wyvern, Galmington v Chard Utd.
Rosebowl: Middlezoy v Highbridge, Bishops Lydeard Res v Porlock, Dulverton Town v Redgate, Sampford Blues v Bridgwater Sports.
Rowbarton Charity Cup 2nd Round: Crown Dynamos v Blackbrook, Moortown v Williton, Alcombe Rovers v Watchet Res, Staplegrove v Norton Fitzwarren.
Gardner Cup Preliminary Round: Porlock Res v Westonzoyland; 1st Round: Highbridge Res v Cossington, Bridgwater Sports Res v Dulverton Town Res.
Division Two: Civil Service v Spaxton, Knight Rangers v Wellworthy Saints.
Division Three: Norton Fitzwarren Res v Minehead Sports, Wyvern Res v Marketeers.
Division Four: Bridgwater Foresters v Wellington, Exmoor Rangers v Staplegrove Res, Taverners v Hemyock.
Division Five: Brandon v Nether Stowey Res, Inter-Sceptre v Staplegrove Colts, Stogursey v Middlezoy Res, Wyvern Foxes v Minehead Sports Colts.