GIFTS AID PORTSMOUTH RECOVERY
Keynsham Devs travelled South to the John Jenkins Stadium for the second time this season, this time to face high flying Portsmouth.
Portsmouth started strongly - with Keynsham having to dig deep - the tempo was so high that a few passes went astray from both teams with players struggling to control simple balls, quickly under pressure.
Keynsham started to warm to their task - Zoe & Maddie with a nice pass into Alice - her forward pass almost found its way to Jenna, via a deflection, but Portsmouth defend well for a corner - which was the cleared.
Portsmouth had a good chance, which they lobbed over, after a defensive Keynsham header off balance had fallen favourably goal-wards for them.
Mandy was starting to size up her victims and made a superb recovery tackle after Portsmouth broke thru and tried to square for a tap in.
Keynsham had a positive moment in the game, which saw Alice and Jenna almost wriggle free. Zoe Jessie & Maddie were battling hard in the midfield area.
Portsmouth almost took the lead when Keynsham struggled to clear and Chloe was forced into a great save with her feet at the near post, before making another great save from a Portsmouth header from the corner.
Portsmouth had a period on top, where Chloe made another good stop.
Megan led a charge but her left foot cross was just a bit too close to the keeper.
Mandy H with another superb challenge which saw the ball go out for a goal kick!
Tilly was looking composed and confident bringing the ball out from the back, but her options needed to be better.
Keynsham weathered another storm, before Alice made a great charge forward, which then saw Megan force an error for a corner, Maddie corner was well met by Zoe - but a defensive body blocked her effort!
Keynsham were now well and truly in this and giving as good as they got. Zoe’s superb cross field pass saw Alice try and work an opening but Portsmouth defended well. Jenna almost latched onto a pass forward, but Portsmouth again defended well.
A great interchange by the midfield 3 - saw Jessie and Maddie work the ball to Alice but Pompey again got numbers back.
Megan fired high and over.
Lily T freekick saw Portsmouth clear for a corner- Maddies low corner went thru everyone and was cleared.. Portsmouth seemed a tad ruffled as the game was now very much in the balance.
Portsmouth almost scored - but Ella (in particularly) Chloe, Mandy & Tilly did enough to shepherd the ball wide of the goal.
Keynsham looked like they fancied this - Megan and Jenna led a great charge - but Keynsham were a tad guilty of rushing the final pass and lost the ball.
Keynsham continued to take the game to Portsmouth and Megan from distance with a freekick saw the keeper forced into a save. Maddie’s corner was partially cleared to Jessie who took a nice touch inside and fired into the bottom corner (0-1)
If Portsmouth weren’t rattled before, they were now!
Alice superb driving run saw her almost find a second.
36 mins had passed in a flash - everyone had worked so hard. Fresh legs arrived, Erin, Milly, Nicky, Jess & Angel for Maddie, Meg, Ella, Tilly & Jenna.
Portsmouth hit the bar with a fierce strike as Keynsham adjusted to their changes.
Lily cross saw the defender just reach a header and the keeper confused whether she could pick it up, which meant a Keynsham corner- Nicky’s corner caused panic but Portsmouth cleared.
Mandy another superb challenge takes out a Pompey Player and Lily (her own!) - she helped Lily up tho!
Angel W almost found Erin with a lovely pass, before Portsmouth made a great break with a fantastic pass but shot wide.
Alice great shield saw Nicky use her box of Zidane tricks and send Erin racing forward, but Portsmouth defended well again.
HT: PORTSMOUTH DEVS 0 vs KEYNSHAM DEVS 1
Keynsham had been superb, going toe to toe with one of the strongest teams in the division. Sure. There had been a few scary moments, but Keynsham had shown more than enough that they could get something out of this game!
Portsmouth start on the front foot - Chloe with a fantastic save to deny a good long range effort. Keynsham defend the corner.
Keynsham work a neat little interchange out, which sees Nicky with a superb cross field pass out for Jess to stretch her legs - Jess finds Jessie - but Portsmouth did well in numbers and the attack breaks down.
Another brilliant charge by several Keynsham players - finishing with Lily and Jess finding Erin - who sets back to Jessie - she finds Nicky, whose fierce strike is spilled and Jess almost follows up, but Portsmouth somehow cleared.
Jessie needed attention after a bad challenge - Mark almost gets booked for entering the pitch (as physio) without the referee waving him on (initially waved away, Mark is then called onto the pitch - in what sadly turns out to the be first of several weird decisions by the referee!)
Portsmouth get themselves in a right mess - as the keeper picks up a back pass - indirect freekick. Jessie’s freekick from Nicky’s layoff was well blocked.
Just past the hour mark and with Portsmouth getting more and more frustrated - Keynsham are again the victim of another dubious penalty decision, which changes the context of the game.
Portsmouth break - the winger takes a heavy touch and Chloe and Lily collide whilst trying to intercept. The winger recycles the ball and her cross with Chloe still getting back to her goal, goes over Milly - bounces and brushes Alice’s hand whilst going wide of the goal. Keynsham clear and suddenly the break is on with Erin 1v1 against a defender.
The referee halts play (some 10+ seconds after the incident) and signals for a penalty - seemingly listening to the moans and groans of a desperate team knowing that they wouldn’t otherwise score.
The Portsmouth striker fluffs her penalty with Chloe making a great save - then betters that with a superb save to stop the follow up - sadly Keynsham’s players are too busy applauding her efforts - and a third follow up was slammed into the corner. (1-1)
The referee is full of strange decisions now as Jessie attempts to chest the ball down, she is blatantly shoved in the back and in being thrown forward the ball hits her arm. A freekick to Portsmouth on the edge his decision! - which is blazed high and wide and lands in Southampton.
Portsmouth are sensing a turn in their fortunes and score again on the counter. (2-1) - when Keynsham over commit forward.
Keynsham aren’t giving this up without a fight - another great Nicky strike is spilled and Portsmouth are lucky to clear.
65 mins (Subs - Megan & Ella for Alice and Jessie.)
Chloe makes another fantastic save as Portsmouth threaten a third.
68 mins (Subs - Maddie, Tilly & Jenna for Mandy, Zoe & Lily T)
Keynsham are looking good on the counter.
20 left - there is still time.
Angel almost finds Jenna with another great pass.
Keynsham are still in this and Portsmouth look far from comfortable.
Maddie’s great pass - sees Jenna battle brilliantly to win the race with the defender, she cuts in and smashes an effort at goal, which the keeper does well to turn wide. Maddie’s corner is eventually cleared.
The game is getting stretched as both teams are understandably tiring.
Keynsham still believe and are still battling and looking to counter.
As the game enters its final moments - Portsmouth score again when an awkward shot is saved by Chloe but the ball falls nicely for a Portsmouth player to fire into the bottom corner. (3-1)
Keynsham are showing a never say die attitude and Maddie feeds Jenna, who twists and turns and forces a corner - Maddie’s fantastic corner sees Jenna shot cleared off the line.
Keynsham finish strongly - but sadly return home with no points for their efforts.
FT: PORTSMOUTH DEVS 3 vs KEYNSHAM DEVS 1
