A late Portchester equaliser from a corner denied the Sirens all three points at Test Park in difficult conditions.

It was the perfect start for the Sirens, a terrific ball from Lynn released Tedman down the left and she beat her defender and cut the ball back into the box, Portchester struggled to clear. It fell to Soares 25 yards out before her deflected strike gave the Sirens an early lead two minutes in.

Moments later, a fine through ball from Kaur found Lynn, but the flag was up for offside. The Sirens continued to apply pressure, with Tedman again causing problems down the left flank and delivering several dangerous crosses.

Portchester began to settle and posed a threat with a few deliveries into the box of their own.

In the 17th minute, a corner to the near post was headed narrowly wide. Just a minute later, they found their equaliser. It was a perfectly struck free kick from just over 20 yards that flew into the top corner, leaving Etheridge no chance.

Kaur was booked after 32 minutes foe delaying the restart.

The Sirens responded well. The debutant, Mills, tested the keeper with a long-range effort that was tipped over, before almost setting up Tedman, who spotted the goalkeeper off her line but sent her clever effort just wide.

At the other end, Etheridge was called into action just before half-time, bravely denying two close-range efforts to keep the game level.

However, the Sirens manage to re-take the lead just before the break after Soares’ curling effort from inside the box forced the keeper into parrying it straight into Ball’s path, and she calmly tapped home from six yards.

Portchester came out pressing hard after the restart, but the Sirens defended well.

Crooks came inches away from extending the lead when her volley struck the inside of the post and rolled across the goal line.

The hosts thought they had wrapped it up when Lynn found the back of the net, but the flag was raised for offside and later Soares split the defence with a brilliant pass to send her through again, but the finish was straight at the keeper.

Etheridge had made several key stops during the half, including a low save to her left to deny a long-range effort.

With fresh legs introduced in Conti, Kjaer, and Davies, the Sirens pushed for a winner, but the afternoon ended in frustration as Portchester levelled late on from a corner in the 85th minute.

Despite the disappointment, the Sirens can take plenty of positives from a strong and determined display in tough conditions.