Advice on play style

Hi all! So I used to play AoM many years ago and recently got back into playing over Steam with a friend of mine, however, after a few games I’m finding myself getting my ass well and truly kicked! The friend I play against seems to rush to the Classical Age then builds a small army that he sends to disrupt my town, the army itself isn’t too big or anything but it’s a constant stream of maybe 10 archers, 10 infantry, a couple myth units and a hero - and I’m really finding it hard to come to counter this. He always tends to use Greek gods, mainly Poseidon. He also likes to set up shop right outside my town which is highly annoying lol!

Any advice on how to counter this play style, what gods to use etc?