Match Reports

Pompey crash

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Pompey’s recent impressive home record came to a chundering halt today, Doncaster played well enough in the first half, but individual errors cost us dearly.

Doncaster are supposedly the Arsenal of the championship, I don’t know about that but they certainly played a part in frantic open spell.
Pompey almost scored within seconds, Kitson flicked on a Utaka cross and Nugent headed straight into Sullivan’s arms. Healey retorted by firing wide, then Halford strolled into the opposing area and smashed a shot against the bar with Sullivan well beaten.

Pompey looked hesitant at the back however, Ashdown has already got down well low to his right when we fell behind, Hayter was the recipitent as a Healey cross was well dummied by Oster and he had the goal at his mercy, 1-0 to the hooped side.

Pompey were not willing to learn a lesson though, Sonko played a ball out of defence straight to a Doncaster bloke, Brown was clattered as he tried to redeem his mate, but the ref was to wave play on (not for the last time), the ball was played into Coppinger and he lifted over Ashdown and Pompey had built a mountain to climb.

Pompey had their chances though, Brown whipped in a low cross that Kanu never connected with and Kitson did likewise, Nugent did find the net with a lob but had already been flagged as he shot.

Second half and Cotterill had obviously seen enough, Kanu was not having a great impact and was replaced by Ward, he went on the right and Nugent pushed forward, Rocha made a welcome return in place of Sonko, our loan man was having another of those games that he frequented early on in the season.

Our tempo was much, much better this half, it almost counted after only 5 minutes of the restart, Ward fired in a cross that Nugent flung himself at, he missed and Kitson following up smashed in a drive from an acute angle that Sullivan beat away.

Utaka had really come alive now, he was bursting forward with pace, one forray was snuffed out well, then he burst forward again, his cross rolled along the goal line and Ward gleefully smashed home form a yard out for his first senior goal.
Pompey were really in the ascendency now, Dickinson was also firing in some lovely crosses from the left, but it was Halford who carved the next chance, his crossed free-kick found Rocha’s head but he guided it narrowly wide as the Fratton end held its breath.

Nugent was the architect of the equaliser as well, he gave the right back twisted blood as he shimmied forwards, his cross was half met by Nugent, the squirmed forward and then Nugent almopst rolled the ball in off his back as he literally stumbled it in.

It looked like there would only be one winner now, Halford almnost provided it as he headed goalwards only for the ball to be hacked clear.
Pompey, after absolutely dominating the second period fell to an absolute sucker punch, Healey was given far to much room 25 yards out, he took aim and fired in a beauty that gave Ashdown no chance, for all P{ompey’s second hal endeavour we were behind once more.

Nugent fired wide once more and then Utaka took it upon himself to wage a one man assault, he skipped past endless challenges only to find the side netting when goal of the season was waiting.

Dickinson found just enough time to become the second blues player to be red carded in a week, he went straight through hayter and saw a straight red to become the latest suspended player, Hermann awaits.

So Pompey, ultimately paid the price for a poor first half showing, the second was lots better and the result was harsh in the end, but lessons need to be learned.

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