Newbury started the encounter brightly, with Rachel Panting playing in Ellie Reed on the left. She beat her player and delivered a good cross into the box. Leanne Creese met it, but she was closed down, so tried to find Panting instead, who had continued her run into the area. Unfortunately she was not quite able to get on the end of it and the early chance went begging.

Reed was having a field day down the left flank, winning the ball again from the Portsmouth full back and galloping into the final third. She sent in another excellent cross, but this time the centre half was able to clear behind for a corner. Reed took it and swung the ball right into the danger zone. As the ball bobbled around, it almost resulted in an own goal, but Portsmouth’s defence were relieved to finally see the ball out of play for a third Newbury corner inside the opening ten minutes.

Although Portsmouth this time cleared with some distance, the ball fell invitingly to Sami Atkins on the edge of the area, but she shot just over with a good first time effort. The next passage of play saw Lorna Parr winning the ball well in midfield and passing decisively to Creese on the right. Her cross found Panting, but her shot too, was just over the bar.

As the rain and wind intensified, Newbury were playing well and were well on top. But they hadn’t yet managed to find a clinical finish, but they were pressing high up the pitch and were keeping Portsmouth penned in their own half. The breakthrough came for the home side on 23 minutes, when they were awarded a free kick left of centre, midway into Portsmouth’s half. Creese stepped up to take the set piece and her effort looked to be sailing too close to the goalkeeper. However, under no pressure, the Portsmouth keeper allowed the ball to slip from her grasp and following in for Newbury, was Panting. She tapped into the net from 6 yards to give her side a deserved one nil lead.

Portsmouth’s players were trying to threaten in the latter stages of the first half, upping the tempo and retaining better possession. Newbury remained well organised though and were defending solidly. Then on the stroke of half time, an excellent through ball sent the Portsmouth striker clear and baring down on goal. As she has done so many times for Newbury this season, Chloe Hunt, was quickly off her line to close down and superbly narrow the angle. She was able to make a fantastic save to deny the visitors and protect Newbury’s clean sheet going into the half time break.

Portsmouth came out with renewed vigour after the re-start and fired an early warning shot just over the Newbury bar, after a good break down the right. Then after just 4 minutes of play, Portsmouth forced an equaliser, after a cross from the left this time. The shot was too high for Hunt to reach, but it fell perfectly just under the cross bar and into the roof of the net. It was now one goal apiece and game on.

Portsmouth were enjoying a very good spell of pressure and were starting to move the Newbury defence around. They created an overload situation on the Newbury right with good interplay and they were now looking dangerous in the final third. The move resulted in a low shot from inside the box, which snuck in at the near post to give the visitors a second goal and put them in front for the first time in the match. 2-1 now in Portsmouth’s favour after 55 minutes.

Newbury were not out of the contest however and were still testing the Portsmouth back line periodically, but just not as frequently as in the first half. Panting had one such attempt on goal, but it was wide of the target unfortunately. The move of the match for Newbury came on 72 minutes, after Sophie Self strode forward to win the ball dominantly in the centre of the park. She sent Panting forward with a simple pass. Panting in turn played in Creese, who tore down the right wing and pulled back a cross to the edge of the area. It was met first time on the half volley by Reed and her shot thundered into the net. It was a superb goal and the shot was simply unstoppable. The score was even once again, with the sides tied at 2-2.

It did not remain that way for very long, as Portsmouth regained their one goal advantage immediately following the re-start. They broke forward with real purpose and were rewarded when one of their midfielders timed a good run into the box, which wasn’t tracked by the home side. It was a momentary lapse that proved costly, as the same Pompey player converted the cross from the left to restore a 3-2 lead for the visitors.

Newbury didn’t let their heads drop and with Parr in a more advanced role, they were still showing some attacking intent. Portsmouth continued to defend strongly when required. Then in the 80th minute, the South coast visitors effectively wrapped up the contest, scoring their fourth goal of the afternoon following an unchallenged throw-in deep into Newbury territory.

Newbury were unable to come back and Portsmouth held on for a satisfying 4-2 victory. It had been a very competitive game and a good encounter for Portsmouth to participate in, ahead of their County Cup Final this evening on 10th April, versus local rivals Gosport Borough.

This signals the end of the 2013/14 Season for Newbury Ladies FC and they will be looking to add players to their squad for their campaign next season in the Southern Region’s Premier Division.

Match Report by Sue Hewett