Portishead Town manager Kye Mountford said “stats do not determine where you finish at the end of the season” as they return to Toolstation Western League Division One action.

At 17 games, their unbeaten run is the longest run of any non-league team across the country.

Posset look to maintain their current unbeaten league run record at Bitton at the Recreation Ground this Saturday.

“It’s good for the lads to get the praise with stats like that but stats don’t determine where you finish at the end of the season,” manager Kye Mountford said.

“We’re doing well but we’re in November and we have some huge games coming up starting with Bitton, obviously a club I use to manage, a huge club that should be levels higher.”

Youth has definitely been a theme for Portishead these past few weeks, having suffered injuries to captain Mitch Osmond and top scorer Ethan Feltham. 

In the reverse fixture at Bristol Road, back in August, Portishead salvaged a point with an injury time equaliser from teenager Jack Harper. 

17-year-old Jake Packham produced a man of the match performance in his first senior start against Bridgwater United and last time out against Bradford Town 16-year-old Luke Attwell grabbed a 99th minute winner. 

“(I’m) over the moon with all the young lads that have come in and that’s credit to all the juniors coaches and our under-18s managers Ash (Clemence) and Ed (Geary),” Mountford added.

“I believe in player pathway, and that has shown with all the young lads getting their chance.

“But I’m not naive enough to think there going to play every game at the level, they will be used in and out for their own development.”

Mountford praised Feltham after scoring 27 goals so far this season since joining from Bridgewater United at the start of the campaign.

The forward is now fully fit after his injury and will be in the side, alongside Osmond, at the Ton, after what has been a “tough month” regarding their injuries and suspensions.

“(He is a) huge player, great attitude and works hard also we have our skipper back after a month out, so it’s the first week for six weeks we will have a full squad to pick from,” Mountford said.

“It makes my job easier but it will be a tough game on Saturday.”