But powerful winds and a relentless downpour couldn’t prevent Portishead Town from deservedly beating Bovey Tracey 3-0.

An early Owen Humphries strike and two Kyle Egan goals, complementing his commanding midfield display, secured an eighth straight Portishead win.

Despite the difficulty of judging the movement of the ball, Posset quickly settled into their brisk, passing style.

And they were ahead in the sixth minute: Jamie Adams found Humphries on the left; he came inside and made space to shoot low into the corner with Bovey keeper Andy Collings rooted to the spot.

Bovey Tracey responded with a ninth-minute ball in from the left that was plucked out of the air by Portishead keeper James Walker.

An 11th-minute Bovey header drifted over after crosses came in from first left then right.

In attack, Jack Thorne threatened every time he took possession as he drove at defenders and Ethan Feltham battled for everything.

Thorne shot just wide from the angle after Humphries’ 14th-minute pass put him clear in the box.

Next Feltham netted, but celebrations were hushed by an offside flag.

In the ascendancy, Portishead still required Matt Britton and Ollie Woodhouse to be on their toes at the back, with Walker also in action holding a 17th-minute shot from distance.

Nonetheless, most of the action was at the visitors' end.

Humphries’ 23rd-minute effort from distance was parried by Collings as it moved in the air.

Egan constantly sent searching balls forward, stretching Bovey’s back line.

It was the skipper who extended the lead on 33 minutes after another impressive passage of play.

Hamish Hurst, a constant outlet on the right side, was amongst those involved before Humphries’ measured pass found Egan in the box for a cool finish, 2-0.

With Portishead not only impressive in possession, but always closing without the ball, Bovey attacks were few and far between.

They forced a couple of corners for no return, and Walker grabbed the slippery ball as Bovey got in a shot on goal.

The second half opened with a jinking Humphries run in tight space through three or four defenders.

From Thorne’s 47th-minute right wing run and cross, Mitch Osmond bravely looped a header onto the bar.

Crashing against the post for his trouble, Osmond was thankfully able to continue after treatment.

On the hour, Thorne made way for Aysa Corrick, soon after Harvey Tierney replaced Hurst.

There remained much to admire in Portishead’s slick passing even with the wind seeming to grow in force.

A terrific Osmond ball played in Humphries on the left of the area; his low shot brought a good save from Collings.

Laurent Davis-Wilson was a 68th-minute substitute for Humphries and, just three minutes later, he shot just wide from Feltham’s unselfish pull back after Egan’s through ball.

Another quickfire passing move ended with Osmond’s shot drifting wide.

Bovey made more progress territorially, but there was nothing doing against Portishead’s defence.

Any lingering hopes Bovey had of getting back in the game were snuffed out by Egan’s 80th-minute goal.

Typical Feltham tenacity won possession, he found Corrick who in turn played in Egan for a confident finish.

Aron Robbins, another sterling defensive contribution in an eighth Posset clean sheet in nine games, was replaced by Rio Fitton.

There was still time for Feltham to rattle the post, then he was almost put in by Sam Watkins, a late substitute for Egan.

The supporters who braved the appalling weather had been rewarded with some high-quality football and a convincing Portishead victory.

Climbing to fourth in the table, Posset move on to Brislington on Tuesday night.