The team throughout the warm up were focussed on securing a win for the youngsters 18th Birthday’s. The team went into the game feeling confident, putting their stick in the way of any attack Basingstoke tried to play. With a few mega runs up the wings from PoM Hannah Taylor, who seemed to be everywhere, Portsmouth were having trouble getting passed the defensive line.

The game became very back and forth with neither team managing to convert a goal. Portsmouth then gave away an unfortunate short corner which the team had managed to defend well. However, Louisa McKay though this was a good time to receive her green birthday card, for forgetting the rule of substitutions at short corners. This lead the home team to another corner which they managed to tuck away from playing the ball around the players and into the goal.

Portsmouth continued to fight but were suddenly struggling to make any plays, slipping to fall over every 30 seconds on the damp astro. The first half ended 1-0 to Basingstoke.

After an impactful team talk from sideline Captain Joni Duff and Coach Katie Jukes, Portsmouth were ready to fight hard for a win. Not long after the start, Portsmouth made some tactful passes around the defence to make it into the Basingstoke quarter. Sophie Brennan ran up the left side to pass the ball across to an awaiting Christina Nelson who tapped the ball past the keeper for the team to celebrate a goal.

This is when Portsmouth picked up the pace and found their rhythm. The team managed to play the ball into the Basingstoke D time after time but were still finding it hard to repeat what Nelson had managed earlier.

As the play made its way back into the defensive quarter. Sarah Bamford attempted to hit a far ball to Megan Cledwyn but missed, giving Basingstoke the chance for an easy goal. Fortunately, Emily Crowcroft was quick to react, forcing the ball to be hit off for a long corner. Basingstoke managed to keep possession for log enough to tap a bouncing shot towards the goal. Through goalkeeper Hannah Bennett’s best efforts, the ball bounced over her padding to hit the backboard.

Portsmouth were still fighting to secure at least a draw at the end of the game but with one last slip from Isabel Slack, the final whistle blew, ending the game 2-1 to Basingstoke.

Despite their best efforts, Portsmouth went home with a loss, but good spirits to begin the birthday festivities.