Page 19 - WSSPPX8 2019-20 a

Pompey show True colours

Crawley Wasps 1 Portsmouth 2
Portsmouth have set up an intriguing FAWNL
League Cup quarter final tie against
Southampton FC with a convincing away
performance against last season’s beaten
finalists Crawley Wasps at Sussex FA
Headquarters in Lancing in the week before
Christmas.
A fine Pompey team effort restricted
Wasps to a bare minimum of chances, whilst a
goal in each half was reward for a strong
display. Wasps halved the arrears with a last
second penalty conversion but it was a case of
'too little, too late' for the Sussex side.
The visitors opened on the front foot
and Charmaine True gave them the lead on Tamsin De Bunsen controls, watched by Megan Stow
eight minutes, pouncing on a loose ball to fire (www.jamesprickett.co.uk).
home from fifteen yards. Rosie McDonnell was
finding useful space down the left and sent in a couple of low crosses which were well
defended, whilst Tamsin De Bunsen and Hayley Bridge both had efforts just wide, the latter
after a strong run through the centre of the Crawley defence.
At the other end, a couple of Rachel Palmer corners caused some alarm for Pompey
but in general, Hannah Haughton in goal was well protected by a strong defence and Wasps
struggled to create any clear openings.
Charlotte Owen created the first real opening for Wasps on the restart but Haughton
was down well to hold her low shot on 50 minutes. Maria Ledezma-Viso was denied in similar
fashion on 64 minutes as the hosts looked to up the pace but Pompey got a crucial boost a
minute later.
McDonnell raced away down the left and sent in a lofted cross-shot from close to the
touchline which drifted over keeper Lauren Graves and dropped in at the far post to double
Portsmouth's advantage on 65 minutes.
Hard as Wasps probed for an opening, it was always the visitors who had control of
the midfield, moving the ball with great fluency at times without creating any further clear
openings.
As the match entered the fifth minute of additional time, Wasps finally opened up the
Pompey defence with a good break and Haughton was penalised as she challenged the
attacker. Naomi Cole converted the spot kick but there was barely time for a restart as the
visitors claimed a deserved victory and the exciting reward of a home Solent Derby tie in the
New Year, a repeat of the Hampshire FA Cup Quarter Final in 2018-19 which attracted a
ground record crowd at Baffins Milton Rovers FC.
Lauren Graves, Hope Nash, Rachel Palmer, Ellie Russell, Darcey James,
Naomi Cole, Maria Ledezma-Viso, Megan Stow, Charlotte Owen, Tash Stephens, Sian
Heather. Subs: Charlotte Young, Niamh Stephenson, Sam Pittuck, Jade Simmons.
Hannah Haughton, Rebekah Tonks, Rosie McDonnell, Danielle Rowe, Laura
Ingram, Jade Bradley, Tamsin de Bunsen, Becki Bath, Charmaine True, Hayley Bridge, Eilidh
Currie. Subs: Melissa Burns, Molly Clark, Jazmin Younger, Mia AdAway.
Issue no. 19 - 9 January 2020 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk