A point a piece at Fratton Park after a good performance from Town, a late penalty for the home side makes if feel a disappointing result for the visitors
Town: Joel Coleman, Josh Emmanuel, Mat Sadler, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley, Lenell John-Lewis, Alex Gilliead, Luke Waterfall, Josh Laurent (Greg Docherty), Ollie Norburn, Anthony Grant
Subs: Cameron Gregory, Ryan Haynes, Greg Docherty, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Charlie Colkett, Ryan Sears
Portsmouth: Craig MacGillivray, Nathan Thompson, Christian Burgess, Matt Clarke, Lee Brown, Tom Naylor, Ben Thompson (Ben Close), Jamal Lowe, Gareth Evans, Andre Green (David Wheeler), Oliver Hawkins.
Subs: Luke McGee, Brandon Haunstrup, Ben Close, Danny Rose, David Wheeler, Joe Mason, Brett Pitman
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Assistants: Stephen Brown, Bhupinder Gill.
Fourth Official: Lee Swabey.
Attendance: 17,634 (281)
Team News: Two changes for John Askey’s starting 11. Josh Emmanuel makes his debut in for Ryan Sears. Lenell John-Lewis for Lee Angol, whose partner is expecting a child.
First Half:
Shrewsbury wouldn’t let Portsmouth get out of their own half in the first half. Fratton Park was kept quiet for the first 45 minutes moans and groans were starting to echo around from Portsmouth fans. Town did everything right apart from find the net.
In the 7th minute, Whalley suddenly found himself in lots of space down the right. He whipped the ball into the box to find John-Lewis two yards out of goal but the shot was just wide of the post.
20th Minute Town created their best move of the half. Lots of intricate passes in midfield, Norburn then threaded a ball through to Beckles who crossed the ball in early. Whalley met the cross in the box but it was deflected out for a corner.
Several minutes later Beckles fired a shot low and hard but was just left of the goal.
Whalley also had an incredible effort on goal from over 35yards. The ball looked to be flying in the top left of the goal but was whiskers wide.
Portsmouth had their first real chance of the game when they were awarded a Free Kick in the 32nd Minute, the ball was whipped by Evans in to the centre of the 6 yard line but Hawkins glanced his effort wide.
Town were awarded a Free Kick just on the edge of the Penalty Box. Whalley took the Free Kick but fired it straight into the wall.
Grant was millimeters away from giving town the lead on the stroke of half time with a great shot inside the box forcing the keeper to scramble over to make sure it was going out.
Both teams went into the break equal on the score sheet. A completely dominant performance from Town but Askey’s side were unable to capitalise and take the lead.
Second Half:
Portsmouth started the second half on the front foot putting Town under lots of pressure but it was well absorbed by the back line. Several corners and Free kicks amounted to nothing for Portsmouth.
Portsmouth almost found the breakthrough as a Town clearance fell to Wheeler’s feet he turned and shot but Coleman gathered the ball easily.
In the 60th minute Town had a huge penalty appeal as a fantastic run from Gilliead saw him brought down in the box. The referee waved it away. Gilliead was left in disbelief.
Coleman made an excellent save as Evans found himself free in the box to head the ball towards goal. Coleman dived to his right to knock it out for a corner.
In the 73rd minute Docherty scored with almost his first touch of the game after coming on as a substitute. Cross came in from Whalley, Burgess went to head it but it looped straight up and dropped to Docherty who kept his calm to volley it into the net.
Town looked to be holding on until they conceded a penalty. The assistant saw the foul from Gilliead on Thompson. Pitman stepped up to the spot and placed the ball in the right corner on the goal.
The game came to an end with both teams earning a draw and taking a point. Askey’s men dominated large periods of the game but couldn’t find the goal that would give his side all three points.