ALRESFORD Town boss Richard Luffman has vowed to curb his passion after landing a two-match stadium ban.

The former Otterbourne manager was sent off in the Magpies’ 4-1 North Hants Senior Cup defeat at Fleet Town last month and will miss Wednesday's (8pm) home game against Portland United and Saturday’s trip to Lymington Town.

Alresford rose to sixth in the Sydenhams Premier with a 2-0 win at Fawley AFC over the weekend. They are level on points with fifth-placed Horndean with three games in hand.

But at a time when Luffman should be driving them on from the sidelines, he must hand over the managerial reins to his assistant Ryan Doswell after letting his emotions get the better of him.

Confessing the error of his ways, Luffman said: “I was sent off in the semi-final defeat against Fleet where we were on the end of a few bad decisions.

“It’s a massive shame for me and something I must learn from as my passion has ultimately got me in trouble.

“I live and breathe the game and sometimes I cross the line and, ultimately, I’m letting down the lads by not being there.

“I’m fortunate in that I have a very good management structure that will allow us to be organised and, hopefully, get something from the toughest game of the season.

“Portland gave us a right battering at their place (3-0 in August) and we owe ourselves a performance on Wednesday as that one wasn’t acceptable.

“I like Portland, they are a good side and deservedly up there.

“In an ideal world they would win the league – them, or Blackfield, I might add – and we’d beat them Wednesday.”

Craig Harding bagged a goal in each half at Fawley, but Alresford ended the game with ten men after Tom Ashton had been sent off for a debatable elbow offence.

With Rob Flooks, Chris Mason, Tom Sands and Aaron Blaxall all due suspensions and Tom Richards struggling with injury, the Magpies recently made two squad additions.

Frontman Dave Parry came in from Amesbury while full-back Brad Benson arrived from Andover Town.

Third-placed Portland warmed up for the Arlebury Park test with a hard-fought 2-0 win at AFC Portchester.

Ryan McKechnie missed a first-half penalty before netting both Blues’ goals.

Portchester ’keeper Cameron Scott brilliantly repelled both McKechnie’s spot kick and Jamie Beasley fierce follow-up to keep the scoreline blank at the break.

But he was beaten early in the second half when Ed Bastick teed up McKechnie’s six-yard header.

Scott defiantly prevented any further damage until he misjudged a headed clearance, allowing McKechnie to loft the ball over him and double the lead.

Visiting ’keeper Sean Lillington also pulled off a number of good saves and Portland boss Gary Bailey reflected: “It was a proper, hard-earned victory and I’m delighted with the clean sheet.

“It showed we don’t just win the easy games, we have steely determination to get us over the line.”