PORTSMOUTH RESERVES 0-0 COVENTRY CITY RESERVES BY ZIAD CHAUDHRY AND KEV MONKS
City Reserves earned their first point of the new season with a 0-0 draw at Portsmouth.
For the first away league game of the season which took place at Conference South side Havant & Waterlooville FC, City Reserves boss Steve Ogrizovic fielded a strong team that included the likes of Andy Morrell and Patrick Suffo who has not played for the reserves since the 5-0 drubbing by Spurs at Stevenage last season. They also welcomed back Craig Pead who had recovered from an ankle injury.
Portsmouth had most of the early play but in the 11th minute, a long pass from Claus Jorgensen found Anthony Barry who miscued his thirty yard effort. Pompey keeper Harold Wapenaar dived to his left and saved the ball with his legs.
City started to pen the home side in their half and in the 16th minute,a Neil Wood corner was met by a half volley from Patrick Suffo on the right hand side of the goal and Wapenaar superbly saved.
The new signing from Manchester United fired wide a minute later from 25 yards as City raised their game.
In the 25th minute, former Millwall and Celtic midfielder Marc Birchill intercepted a pass and found Tom Settle inside the City penalty. Settle advanced but across came Andy Whing to stick out his right foot and clear the danger.
Four minutes later,another City free kick this time taken by Craig Pead saw Andy Morrell head just wide and as the game reached the half hour mark, Patrick Suffo fired a free kick over the Portsmouth wall but into the waiting arms of Wapenaar.
The home side replied a minute later when a glancing header by James Keane flew past Andy Marriott's post.
With former City assistant manager Jim Smith watching on amongst a crowd of 252 (two City fans) which was a very low gate for the Premiership side and one not helped by the £6 admission fee, Portsmouth had Matthew Day booked for a foul on Craig Pead in the 36th minute.
Twice the ball had gone out of this compact and bijou ground and it went for a third time in the 39th minute when a Jorgensen over head kick fell for Morrell who blasted the ball high and wide.
Referee Mr Ward added two minutes of added time and in the first minute of this,a Neil Wood corner bobbled to Morrell some five yards out. The former Wrexham striker hit a shot which Wapenaar saved on his goal line.
At half-time,Patrick Suffo who had picked up a slight calf strain was replaced by Craig Reid.
A heavy downpour started to affect the conditions but in the 54th minute,Tom Settle fired wide before he was replaced by Darryl Fordyce.
Andy Whing was having a fine game and made a superb defensive tackle to block a Marc Birchall shot in the 60th minute.
Portsmouth attacked again through Cooper who fired wide in the 64th minute. This allowed City to regain possession and counter attack. Some good approach play found Claus Jorgensen some fifteen yards out but the Dane wasted the chance by missing the target.
Craig Reid always looked a threat for City and in the 69th minute,Wapenaar dived to his right to save a Reid effort.
With thirteen minutes left,Neil Wood was replaced by Kevin Thornton as both sides played out for a draw.
HT PFC 0-0 CCFC FT PFC 0-0 CCFC
ATT 252
Bookings Matthew Day (36 mins)
Man Of The Match - Andy Whing
Ref G.L. Ward Ass M Blatchford,SJ Phibbs
4th Off J.Davies
Team:1 Marriott,2 Nicell,3 Giddings,4 Pead,5 Whing,6 Osbourne, 7 Jorgensen,8 Wood (15 Thornton 77),9 Morrell,10 Suffo (12 Reid 46),11 Barry Subs 13 Tuffey,14 Hall,16 Bains
Portsmouth: 1 Wapenaar,2 Schemmel,3 Griffin,4 Pullis,5 Buxton,6 Day,7 Cooper,8 Clarke,9 Keane,10 Birchall, 11 Settle (17 Fordyce 55) Subs 12 Moore,14 Guatelli,15 Angus,16 Harris,