Super Stanley scores four as Royal Navy thrash USPFC in Portsmouth Cup

A four-goal haul from Ben Stanley helped fire the Royal Navy to a commanding 7-1 victory over USPFC Development in the first round of the PDFA Senior Cup at Victory Stadium.

Despite having the lion’s share of the chances, the Navy led by just one goal lead at half-time, with Stanley’s finish the difference between the sides.

But the forward struck again shortly after the break to double the Navy’s lead, before the Senior Service ran riot to book their place in the next round.

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The hosts dominated the opening exchanges, exploiting the space behind USP’s back line, but despite sending several tantalising balls across the face of goal, they were unable to find the back of the net.

The breakthrough came after 35 minutes when Connor McAuley picked out Stanley running in behind. The forward cut onto his left foot and drilled his shot into the bottom corner.

The Navy continued to exploit the wide areas, with Tomos Kathrens fizzing a cross in from the right for Stanley to tap home his second shortly after the break. 

Ben Barron bundled in from a corner around the hour mark, before Ben Aldous danced past two defenders on the left wing and slotted into the bottom-right corner.

Stanley completed his hat-trick with 10 minutes remaining, converting yet another low cross from inside the area.

Substitute Harley Morris then jinked past a defender on the edge of the box and rolled the ball in to make it 6-0.

USP pulled a goal back late on with a well-taken free-kick under the wall, but Stanley had the final say, scoring his fourth in injury time to restore the Navy’s six-goal cushion.

The win sends the Navy into the second round, where they will face Baffins Milton Rovers next month (date TBC).