Saints 1 Pompey 4 - Well done Pompey!

A game of four quarters rather two halves! The atmosphere was electric - the whole stadium bounced and swung to 28,000 Saints fans easily drowning out the 4500 blue skates. It was a wonderful experience and a scene not echoed on the south-coast for many a year.

There was the inevitable banter. Each time the skates launched into singing the Pompey chines (play up Pompey) the Saints fans responded with "Pay up Pompey" and completely drowned them out. This was follwed with chants of "Harry's got your money" and other clever and topical stuff. Well done Northam and Itchen Corner - great stuff - we even heard Chapel today which is a rarity!

For the first half, we were on top and controlled things. Even when they scored, we equalised within 3 minutes. Then they scored a second two minutes later and the game was over. Pompey had great pace and were able to repeatedly turn defence into attack and that is how you win games. They had speed and speed in numbers. Our tiring defence couldn't cope.

The score-line is a little flattering to our visitors but they deserved the win over 90 minutes - just a pity games don't last 75! Well done Pompey.

Going out of the FA Cup in the 5th round to Premier League opposition isn't too bad. But we have a Wembley Cup Final to look forward to and the possibility of making the play-offs. Not bad when you consider where we started the season!

COYR