27/01 Pompey 2nd Half

By: Tony Butcher
Date: 28/01/2001

Town didn't make any changes at half time, though Portsmouth replaced a player I hadn't even noticed was on the pitch (Thorgerson) with Derry. Nothing happened for 5 minutes. It was rubbish. Portsmouth had the ball and did nothing with it.

Grimsby Town 2 Portsmouth 1
27 Jan 2001, Nationwide League Division 1

Derry headed firmly, but straight, at Coyne from a cross from Town's left, but apart from that nothing got near either goalkeeper. After about 10 minutes of the half Town should have (again) gone 3-0 up. After some interplay and "triangles" down the right the ball was passed to Donovan, who dribbled across the face of the penalty area, beating two players. He passed to Livingstone, about 12 yards out, to the right of the post and looking 5 yards off side. Tony Ford-a-like kept his flag down and Livvo dragged an awful shot several yards wide of the 'keeper's left hand post. A minute or so later Town had another interesting attack, with Jeffrey wriggling free of his marker and playing a Sheringham like pass between defenders for Livingstone to run onto. Boy, this defender must have been quick to out pace Livvo and slide the ball away.

Grimsby Town Coyne McDermott Enhua Groves D Smith Donovan Burnett Willems Campbell Livingstone Jeffrey   Subs Pouton Croudson Chapman Raven Rowan

Probably the turning point of the half was what happened when Portsmouth broke away after another surging Town attack which immediately followed the "Livvo nearly got to the ball" excitement. Claridge, near the managers' dug-out, backheeled the ball down the line for Panapoulos, who sprinted down the wing. All the Town players were up field and were desperately sprinting back, but not in any particular order or formation. The ball was crossed in to the near post, about 10 yards out where Bradbury out-jumped whoever was near him and powered a header down towards the bottom corner. Coyne leapt to his right and punched the ball away one handed. Yet another fantastic save from the surprisingly salmon-like stopper. The Town fans stood to applaud.

The rest of the game was useless, as far as Town were concerned. I can't remember any Town inspired excitement between the 55th and 90th minute. Town gradually retreated back towards Coyne and allowed Portsmouth to put more and more pressure on the unsteady Town central defence. Enhua's right hand became more and more evident as he appealed for offside, which he rarely got. There were several real moments of panic as a result, no shots, just scrambled blocks. I recall a low shot fizzing across the face of Coyne's goal from the Portsmouth right, and another of those crosses which goes between goal and on-rushing strikers.

Town were not keeping the ball well, the main culprits appearing to be Coyne (kicking far too high and long) and the front two, Livingstone looked totally zonked after about 50 minutes, seemingly incapable of running, and Jeffrey became less effective, probably after a change of marker. After 72 minutes the increasingly inevitable Portsmouth goal finally arrived. A town attack was broken up on the Portsmouth left and a pass was played down the "channel" between McDermottt (who was up in attack) and Enhua. Enhua stopped and put his hand in the air. BRADBURY (left) carried on running, carried on a bit more and rolled a shot across Coyne and into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.

Within a couple of minute, Jeffrey was replaced by Pouton (both of whom received warm and prolonged ovations). Pouton had a couple of runs, one arrogant drag back and flick and that was about it. Nothing happened in the next 18 minutes, except the game became a little petulant. A few hefty tackles flew in, which were not penalised by the referee. There were a couple of finger waggings and minor shoves here and there and Enhua did something silly. Claridge (right) chased down a long pass as it dribbled out for a goal kick. Enhua tried to shepherd it out and slid in as Claridge nipped round the back. Enhua dived to try and get a free kick, but the referee gave a corner. Claridge shouted at Enhua and pointed a finger towards him, and Enhua went down slowly clutching his face. It looked like a pathetic attempt to get Claridge sent off.

Next thing to tell you about? Town should have scored a third. In injury time someone chipped a long pass down the left hand touch-line and Livingstone out-sprinted a defender (yes, that shocked us too) leaving him alone, but way out to the left of goal. He saw Donovan sprinting into the area on the (Town) right and curled a low, slow cross between goalkeeper and defender. Donovan, about 7 yards, just got to the ball in front of the 'keeper, who blocked with his body.

A couple of minutes of injury time during which Town conspicuously failed to waste time from a corner, merely setting up a Portsmouth counter attack. Then the referee finally lost interest and blew his whistle.

In the end it was close, but should not have been. Town were, on occasion, superb in the first half, playing like we know they can. As a team, in a 4-4-2 formation, one touch passing and movement. Sublime to watch. Then in the second half the usual story - the tempo decreased, the movement stopped. Familiar faults, both individual and collective, returned. I wish someone would teach Enhua to play to the whistle - that's something you are taught as a 6 year old. Perhaps, as national captain, he gets what he wants "back home". Livingstone should have been taken off after 60 minutes as he plainly could not cope. On the plus side one has to praise Jeffrey for an intelligent and committed display, D Smith for improving, Donovan for being (on occasions) unstoppable and McDermott for his defensive solidity and attacking brio.

A deserved victory, that should have been greater. Portsmouth were mundane, mid-table plodders. They just didn't seem bothered. Any lessons to learn from this game? Well, it does seem that the case for 4-4-2 with Donovan playing wide has been strengthened. We, the supporters, got what we wanted. The style, the tactics, the formation, the result. Just ignore the non-event that was the second half.

You can smile again .

Tony Butcher

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