BUCS Cup
Wednesday 28th October

The UPFC Men’s 1st team started their cup campaign off with a comfortable 7-0 win over Brighton’s 5th team. Following two comfortable victory’s in the league the confidence was high although the players knew that with Brighton being a few leagues below they had nothing to lose so were always going to raise their game.

Tom Lloyd announced the team and then a good warm up took place, with Tom Lloyd quizzing the players on their own individual jobs to make sure everyone knew what was expected of them.

The game kicked off and immediately Pompey started well with good passing and link up play between James Potton and Matt Parsons set Andy Younie free, he took a couple of touches away from the defender then placed his shot into the corner just touching the post on its way in. This goal settled Pompey down and the confidence grew even more, everyone wanted the ball and soon after the second goal arrived. Great work down the right from Richard Maltby overlapping Josh Warren to get on the ball down the right wing, his cross was perfect for Andy Younie who controlled it with his left before scooping the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net.

Pompey were in full control of the game, passing the ball well and there was good link up play between the midfield and strikers that was causing Brighton lots of problems. The next opportunity came for Pompey when James Potton played a great ball through to Matt Parsons, he decided to take his shot early on the half volley but he didn’t catch it right and it went wide and off for a goal kick.

The defence was keeping any threat that Brighton had at bay and the game was all being played in the Brighton half. Pompey were starting to get a lot of corners and with Josh Warren’s delivery perfect Kieron Lewis had a great opportunity from 8 yards but his header went well over. He did eventually get his name on the score sheet though when another great corner from Josh Warren landed on his head he powered it at goal, the keeper blocked it but he was on hand to tap it home for his second goal of the season.

Not long after Pompey were 4-0 up, another corner from Josh Warren this time from the left was brilliantly headed home at the back post by Matt Parsons for his fifth goal in only 3 games this season.

As the half neared the end Andy Younie had a great chance for his hat-trick after a great fun from Matt Barker who played the ball into his path but the shot was weak and straight at the goalkeeper’s legs. The half time whistle went and Pompey were very satisfied with their performance a comfortable 4-0 lead and lots of positives to take from it.

The second half began much like the first with Pompey in control, passing the ball well and making Brighton work very hard to get it back.

Pompey were hungry for more goals and after 15 minutes of the second half the goal arrived, a mix up in the Brighton midfield allowed Richard Maltby to steal the ball and play a perfect through ball for Andy Younie who passed the ball across to Michael who had had the simple task of passing the ball into the empty net.

Fewer chances were created in the second half with Pompey playing at their own pace, knowing when to play the killer ball but mainly keeping it from Brighton so they had no chance of saving the game.

Pompey made a few substitutions and they slotted in well continuing to dominate the game, Pompey did make it six though when substitute Mike Dunnet played a ball up to Matt Parsons who flicked the ball down to Andy Younie who took his time before placing his shot under the goalkeeper and into the net.

The final goal of the game then came with around 5 minutes to go, Pompey passed the ball out of the back well and Josh Warren then received it and played a ball through the middle of the defence to Andy Younie who managed to tap it around the goalkeeper before rolling it into the net for his fourth of the game and ninth of the season.

The final whistle went and another very good performance from Pompey. Scoring seven goals and keeping another clean sheet and more importantly going through to the next round of the cup with the dream of the double still alive.