2010-11 Match Report CCFC 3 v 0 PORTSMOUTH

16.4.2011

CCFC 3 v 0 PORTSMOUTH

Due to the still barely credible events of 2008, the Pompey fixture will always bring with it emotions of pride tinged with disappointment. And enough anecdotes to fill in a lifetime’s awkward first pint of the evening scene-setting through to final-pint-of-the-session reminiscences.

So, fast forward three years and the potential for yet another anti-climactic end to a season of great promise and not a little frustration remains. A few games back some people off the pitch were thinking it was all over. On the back of three straight wins and some welcome wobbles from our rivals we may well have to wait another month before declaring a Wolstenholmian ‘it is now!’

There was no doubt that the 24,000+ crowd were up for this one. The sun was out, the fish were jumpin’ and the cotton was high. And within 6 minutes, against the early run of play we were ahead. Bellamy collected in an advanced position, delivered a looping cross over the heads of the Pompey defence and Olifinjana rose to power a header into the net. 1-0 and the livin’ is easy. And about to get a whole lot easier.

On 20 minutes after Bothroyd had won a free kick 20 yards out, Portsmouth defender Rocha squared up to JB, inexplicably nutted him and was sent on his way. The travelling Pompey fans made their displeasure known and one or two availed themselves of the opportunity afforded them by our fair-minded stewards and took up the invitation to leave early by the back door, serenaded on their way by a fond ‘Cheerio’ and a friendly wave from the home fans.

The rest of the first half was a strangely disjointed affair and although we were comfortably in the ascendancy we were failing to exploit the one man advantage. On the stroke of half-time, Bothroyd who had earlier been guilty of a glaring miss at the far post redeemed himself when following a misdirected header from Kitson a melee in the box ensued and the ball broke free to JB who rifled the ball into the back of the net. 2-0. (Just reviewed that last paragraph. Sorry, beginning to sound like a real Journo. It won’t happen again.)

Although the second half was a much more convincing affair, particularly as Pompey tired and struggled to adapt to a succession of changes of personnel, there was still sufficient evidence for the doubters to question whether we can sustain the challenge. As well as we are playing, and as good as the results have been lately, we have still not reached the heights attained in the October run. There are however encouraging signs that we might just see it through this time. 

Without doubt we are blessed with a captain who is a winner, who despite his obvious failings in the area of socio-emotional intelligence (ie. he’s a bit of a prat) does not suffer fools, will not accept slackers and is ensuring that we get the best out of luxury players like McPhail and Whittingham. Bellamy’s all round performance today was exemplary – never allowing the opposition to settle, always chasing a ‘lost’ cause and running defenders ragged (and endearing himself to the officials by accepting every decision with petulance and bad grace...) On 75 minutes he crowned a magnificent performance by storming down the right wing and delivering a perfectly placed pass into the path of the rampaging Whittingham. 3-0. Game over.

So how will this all end? Who knows? If we learnt one lesson from the Great FA Cup Adventure it was how to enjoy the journey. OK, history records that ultimately we were losing finalists. But it’s the highlights along the way – the Jimmy-Floyd and Whitts wonder goals, the euphoria of the semi-final victory and the anticipation of a cup final appearance that mattered. We didn’t expect to win the FA Cup. 12 months ago we never really thought that we’d beat Blackpool, even as we took a 2-1 lead. The years have told us to enjoy the journey in the belief that we may never arrive.

But now, on the back of 4 straight wins and the knowledge that 4 more will get us over the line, our 50 year postponed date with destiny is upon us. Cardiff City may just be about to arrive.

Adrian Chiles 2.0, the version post-‘Working Lunch’ but pre-breakfast telly disintegration, wrote in his book about the burden of being a Baggy that ‘It’s the hope that kills you’. He’s right – when all hope has gone and there’s nothing left to care about you can revert to being a spectator. But for now the anguish of expectation is real, visceral and deadly.