Pre-match preamble
A brief history of Portsmouth FC: Our opponents today were founded in 1898 as 'The Portsmouth Football and Athletic Company', even though they didn't actually have a ground or a team until the following year. That's optimism for you!
Claim to fame: They are one of only five English football clubs to have been champions of all four tiers of the professional English football pyramid, and the only professional football club in England which is not located on mainland Great Britain, as the City of Portsmouth and their Fratton Park football ground are located on Portsea Island (source: Wikipedia).
Nicknames: Portsmouth's arch-rivals, Southampton (their 'Norwich', you could say), are based in part on geographic proximity (sounds familiar) and also on their respective maritime histories. Although their most common nickname is Pompey after the city and the Royal Naval dockyard, their Southampton (Saints) rivals call them the 'Skates'. This unofficial epithet was chosen, ironically, from usage by the civilian population of Portsmouth, who had long used 'Skate' as a derogatory name for sailors based in their city or elsewhere. The Pompey fans' name for the 'Saints' is the 'Scummers' – sounds familiar!
I discovered the trains were replaced by coaches today to Ipswich, and dithered whether to drive, but the parking and traffic conundrum defeated my resolve. Besides, I would have no one to talk at (yes, at) in my car. My victim today was a really pleasant Norwich supporter (they had to break their rail journey from London), and yes – I repeat, he was a great companion for the short journey. Ewan, who is studying at UCL, was on his way home for a wedding. We parted with good wishes for the 5th October, which of course neither of us really meant – may the best team win, Ewan, and no ill feelings. Ha ha!
First half
The team took off with purpose from the first whistle and were rewarded when a Cajuste pass set Philogene up for another stunner with only 10 minutes on the clock. The ball curled into the net via the top of the corner post, leaving all the Pompey defenders shaking their heads in disbelief.
Town kept pressing, and Szmodics had a shot on goal saved by the debut Portsmouth keeper around 15 minutes later.
Pompey came close in the 34th minute when Segecic passed to Miu-Hyeok with only Palmer to beat, but he denied them an equaliser, stopping the ball by his feet. Great save. It was the only real shot on target for Pompey in the whole of the first half.
Nine minutes later, Matusiwa teed up Davis on the wing, who ran on before sending a perfect ball across the goal mouth. Hirst easily tapped it in by the right-hand* post.
Half time
My usual seat neighbours, Gary and his two sons, had defected to watch rugby, but he was replaced by a very knowledgeable and amiable young lady, so I'll forgive him.
Chatted to the divine Dennis and to Peter.
*I wondered to myself which were the right and left-hand posts. Is it decided from a goalkeeper's perspective, or everyone else in front of the goal?
Second half
More of the same, though the visitors were perhaps a little more in the mix.
Early on, Egeli had a shot deflected onto the roof of the net, and Philogene fired just off-target.
Two more chances followed, with O'Shea getting his head to a pinpoint free kick from Nunez, which was ultimately pushed over the bar. This was followed just before the end when Azon hit the post from just outside the box.
Pompey got a consolation goal in the second minute of the added three – from a corner kick, the ball was headed in by Pack.
Good game, good referee, good result.
Final Score: Ipswich 2 – Portsmouth 1
Men of the match
Cajuste, Davis, Matusiwa were the standouts for me, and Egeli made a decent starting debut. And of course, wizard ball curler Philogene. I thought the subs were all a perfect fit and added the energy needed for the closing minutes.
MotM: Cedric Kipre. A great, solid full match debut from this player.
Post-match ponderings
The team choice was perfect in my opinion, as they face a tough match on Tuesday night against Bristol City at the Ashton Gate ground, with the big hairy one against our East Anglian neighbours coming up at home next Sunday!
Today's match was a good, clean affair for the most part with another decent referee in control throughout, and without any dark arts or histrionics … or rain! I felt relaxed (not often an experience that equates with watching Town recently), and enjoyed our emerging new team, who are beginning to look like just that – a team. One to be reckoned with going forward.
Town stayed tight despite Pompey raising their game a little in response in the second half, and though it was a shame not to keep a clean sheet, their late goal was a good one, not in any way a slip-up by the home side. There was a feeling of impending goals for Town all the way through, goals that in future matches I'm sure will come.
On the coach home to Colchester, I shared a seat with Mauricio from North London (Ipswich origins), and we talked all about the comings and goings of the players this summer. I said I thought all our new guys were exciting, as well as Cajuste, who has already become a Town favourite (although they haven't displaced Leif Davis and Jack Clarke in my affections just yet). Those who want to play here should be the ones who get our loyalty, no good crying over spilt milk or transfer windows.
Mauricio's response made me laugh – he mournfully said, with a smile, that he was still not over the departure of Darren Ambrose.
To sum up in one sentence – Portsmouth did not play badly – Town played well today.
