PORTLAND United put in a brilliant performance to secure a 1-0 win at Plymouth Parkway in their FA Cup extra-preliminary round tie.

Alex Godfrey was the hero for the visitors, scoring in the 49th minute, but Portland rode their luck at times with Parkway missing a penalty on 79 minutes.

The win gives Portland United £1,500 in prize money and moves them into the preliminary round of the cup.

Speaking to Echosport after the game, manager Simon Browne described his team as “magnificent”.

He said: “It was a tough competitive game. It could have been two or three all at half-time. The pitch was decent and we passed it really well, we scored a really good goal.

“They started to get edgy and a few wild challenges came in. The lads were magnificent. I said it was a tough draw but privately I thought if we could get a result it would be good.

“I expect a few people thought we’d lose but we’ve actually won it.”

Parkway began strongly and might have had a goal in the opening minute of the game, a moment that Browne thought might have signalled that a tough afternoon was in store.

“They put us under pressure to start with, they had an opportunity after 10-15 seconds of the game. It looked like it could be a goal. I thought we were going to be in for a long afternoon.

“They are a big side, ex-Weymouth player Ben Joyce was in their team.”

With Browne having played some memorable FA Cup ties, including a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest in his Weymouth playing days, the magic of the competition is not lost on him.

He said: “I was saying to the guys in the changing room the FA Cup is a special competition to be in. I was fortunate to play in some decent games so I said to them ‘grasp the opportunity’.

“We won and everyone’s really happy, they put in a good shift. I’ve won the first two games of my managerial tenure so I have a smile on my face!”

Portland’s next game is now on Saturday at Cowes Sports after their Tuesday night opponents Shaftesbury drew 0-0 against Exmouth to book a midweek replay, giving midfielder Shane Evans more time to recover from a knee injury.

Browne said: “Shane had to come off in the first half. He’s taken a whack on his knee. I’m hoping it’s just an impact injury.”

Portland: Lillington, Smith, Payne, Doidge, Whyton, Bessant, Evans, McKechnie, Clarke, Godfrey, Halloran