Joe Berry will make his Portishead Town debut against Hengrove Athletic in the Toolstation Western League this afternoon ( Saturday) says manager Kye Mountford.

Berry signed for Posset from Nailsea & Tickenham last month after nine years with the North Somerset outfit, where he scored 137 goals in 172 games during his time with the Swags.

He led the North Somerset side to successive promotions from the Uhlsport Somerset County League Premier to the Toolstation Western League Premier between the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seaons.

And Mountford said he can't wait to see Berry in action for Portishead.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him in black and white.” he said.

“He’s a great lad so fits in nicely and there’s no pressure on him. I know the quality he has.”

Mountford said Berry is “strong, pacy and direct” and of a “similar mould” to their top scorer Ethan Feltham and says he has fitted in with the team.

“He’s settled in really well with the lads in training,” he said.

“He’s a great lad and when he rang me wanting to come it was an easy yes as how much quality he has, and most importantly I knew he fits in to my style.

“We are really pleased to have him in the group. We have a squad of 22 now so competition for places is good.

“And in that squad the team spirit is second to none, from Sam Bendall the kitman to the captain Mitch (Osmond) we’re all in it together and I think that shows on the pitch.”

Mountford said Posset will go into the Christmas period “full of confidence” as they look to continue their fantastic run of form over Hengrove. 

Posset last tasted defeat in August with a 2-1 defeat at Radstock Town and have gone on to record a record-breaking unbeaten run in the league, having surpassed the 15-game record set in the 2006/07 season by going 20 league matches without defeat.

And Mountford said he is expecting another challenging match at Bristol Road.

“Another tough one, Hengrove are one of them teams that can beat anyone on there day,” Mountford added.

“They a young hungry team with a great manager in Jamie Hillman who probably don’t get the credit he deserves, (today) will be a hard one.

“They are mostly all young lads but very good footballers on their day, Jamie will have them set up and they will work hard, we have our work cut out

“But on the flip side my team are 20 unbeaten so we will be full of confidence going into the Christmas period.”

Portishead come in to the game on the back of a 5-1 victory away at Middlezoy Rovers last Saturday.

League top scorer Feltham scored four goals, to take his total to 35 goals in all competitions, and George Fowler grabbed the other as Portishead produce a five-star display.

“I thought we were excellent, Middlezoy tried to rough us up from the start and I’ve watched it back and they could have probably had two, three sent off,” Mountford said.

“But my lads didn’t react and played our football. At times we were a joy to watch.”