BUCS South Eastern Conference Men’s 4A
Wednesday 4th November

A first half of thrills and spills sees the 3rds prevail to an inspired victory to see off the 2nds to collect three points and go top of the league.

With all of the Portsmouth football teams playing at home on Wednesday and many important matches to be played, there was no doubt which match was the game of the day and many had come to adorn the sidelines to watch this highly anticipated contest unfold. With the 2nds and 3rds in the same league and holding positions one and two in the league table respectively, the winner of this game would claim top spot in the table.

The first fifteen minutes saw both teams battling for control of the game as they looked to assert their dominance over each other. The 2nds had thought they had taken the lead after a strike by Dan Spencer was disallowed as the referee had adjudged that there had been a hand ball en route to goal, but the decision was only made after a hesitant consultation with the linesman. Minutes after, smart interplay by Gary (Jesus) Atkinson and Sean Gadsby, saw Gary cleverly back heel the ball for Gadsby’s cultured left foot to run onto to deliver a dream cross into the corridor of uncertainty for Emmanuel Andoh to meet with his head and find the back of the net with simplicity. A wake up call for the 2nds to get into the game and to find some guile and craft in the final third. Bruce Suraci’s men had played some neat team moves, especially down the wings with full backs Chris Musgrove and Dan Wetton getting high up the field to cause problems. Through their endeavour, an equaliser was fashioned in a somewhat controversial manner as the 3rds centre half Ross Porter had appeared to have been fouled in his own box by Rob Fricker, leaving a loose ball to be fired into the back of the net by Dan Wetton. Despite appeals, the goal stood and the game was levelled. But not for long. Soon after, the awareness and industry of Matt Whiteford lead him to play a through pass into the path of his fellow forward partner Emmanuel Andoh to latch onto. Andoh took the bobbling ball into to his stride and with Tom Rowe and David Houlders in his wake and the oncoming goal keeper Andrew Stass looking to close him down. The forward superbly looped the ball over the head of Stass from twenty yards to leave him helpless as the ball bounced into a gaping net and for Andoh and Pompey 3rds to grab their second goal. Emmanuel Andoh had threatened to score a hat trick just before the close of the 1st half, with two deft touches to beat his man which set him for a powerful strike from twenty five yards which was destined for the top corner; however the ball was marvellously tipped around the post by Andrew Stass to the disbelief of many onlookers. Definitely one for the cameras.

A change of half came with a change of weather as rain started to descend on the pitch. The soft surface made it difficult for the players to find their footing, which wasn’t conducive for flowing football to be played. The 2nds adopted a long ball tactic in the last twenty minutes of the game in a bid to salvage something but nothing was forthcoming. Nick Pritchard was a leader at the back winning many headers to clear the danger. Scott Gibson and Chris Mason did brilliantly for the 3rds to win the midfield battle and had the better of that part of the field; they used the ball efficiently and pressed the opposition well. Both teams had come close to changing the score line as Lee Fisher and Gary Atkinson both hit the woodwork and Matt Whiteford going agonisingly close with efforts in the dying stages of the game. Changes were made late on, with Mike Goulden being brought on to sure things up in the midfield and to act as an insurance policy in front of the defence. The togetherness and the desire displayed by Pompey 3rds saw them claim 3 points and bragging rights in this hot contest.