Portsmouth Storm to Gale Forced Win

Portsmouth started on the front foot but So'ton Uni started to find their feet and with skilful play and fast breaks kept the home team honest at the back although they were unable to find their way to the goal.

The first half an hour passed without troubling the score until Alex Love was shown a green card for a tactical assault on the half way line. As the home team restored to 11 players once two minutes had been served, the best move of the game saw George Gale receive the ball near the by-line. With the keeper sliding out Gale had the audacity to lob the keeper from the narrowest of angles and find the net. How he accomplished this we're still not sure. Some say he somehow put curl onto the ball, some say he merely defied the known laws of physics, others point to the deflections off the defenders sticks in the goal mouth. In any case, all goals count and the host took the lead to half time with the score at 1-0.

The second half continued in much the same vein with both teams having strong attacks. Portsmouth's best chances in the second half came from the aerial accuracy of Alex Williams but a wasteful Gale was unable to add to his tally. Southampton Uni kept pressed for a leveller until the end but were stopped by either the resolute Andy Arnell or by strong saves from keeper Ed Smyth. With neither team finding the net in the second half, the game finished 1-0 with Portsmouth able to celebrate their first win of the season.

MoM went to Andy Arnell for being a brick wall.
DoD went to Adam Harley for his alternative interpretations of strong passes and pitch boundaries.

Goal(s):
Gale '31