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Match Day Thread Pompey 3 v 1 Cheltenham - Youth Alliance League

Discussion in 'Portsmouth' started by Wooperts_duck, Jan 18, 2023.

  1. Wooperts_duck

    Wooperts_duck Well-Known Member
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    Pompey Academy kept their Youth Alliance League title hopes alive with a 3-1 victory over Cheltenham.

    But they had to fight from behind at Havant’s Front Lawn facility, with a corner leading to Adam Payce levelling before the break.

    Maxwell Hurst then came off the bench to fire the Blues into the lead before Payce wrapped things up late on.

    Assistant professional development phase coach Sam Hudson said: “Our opponents sat very deep throughout the game – similar to the reverse fixture at their place.

    “It was difficult to play through or over them, so we had to try to exploit the wide areas and did that quite well on the right in the first half, but there wasn’t too much end product.

    “We didn’t really have that balance on the left and fell behind from a counter, but managed to equalise from the second phase of a corner.

    “It was an area that we had highlighted in our preparations, so it was pleasing to transfer that into the game situation. The players took on the information and used it well.

    “We made a couple of changes at the break and looked more balanced as a team, with our positioning much better.

    “There was a flurry of crosses from Harvey Laidlaw and Jamie Howell on the left and we hit the woodwork twice, while there were shots and headers blocked.

    “We were dominating and Maxwell put us ahead from a well-worked move on the right. He controlled the delivery and finished nicely on the turn to open his account for the season.

    “That gave us something to build on and he set the tone for our pressing, although Cheltenham didn’t have a load of possession.

    “We looked to keep up the pressure and there weren’t really any threats on our goal in the second half.

    “Adam then scored a header in injury-time to wrap up the points and my only criticism is that we could have been more clinical.

    “I was really pleased with our reaction after the break because we were much more of a potent attacking threat and the changes we made paid off.

    “We can win the title with four games left and so there’s a real incentive for the lads to perform and do well.”

    Pompey: Bastian Smith; Kevin Bosaka (Jack Fox 46), Josh Dockerill, Brian Quarm; Kobi Mottoh, Dan Murray, Mitch Aston (Elliott Simpson 79), Harvey Laidlaw; Adam Payce, Sam Folarin (Maxwell Hurst 46), Jamie Howell
     
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