Another match another Saturday and a three o’clock kick off and what a game it was!!!!!!!!
The pub was very nice indeed if quiet it’s been a few years since I had a pint or two in this public house. The pub had a restaurant to one side called The Tiffin room (It is the India Arms after all) and the other side of the bar there was leather sofas and low tables very nice. The refit of the pub has been well worth it I will come back again, the only thing is the pub had no Newcastle Brown Ale!!! So I opted for IPA how appropriate.
So the match 11 goals in all saved pen and disallowed goals, everything in a 90 min match. Pompey controlled the first half completely. With two goals from Benjani one on 6 min the other on 37 but it even got to the point that it was to easy and I wanted Reading to come back at us to make it more interesting, they did with a sloppy goal from Hunt’s close-range header after Rosenior's left-foot shot appeared to have crossed the goal-line on the stroke of half-time. So I hoped Pompey would be ready for the second half and get one in early but no James inexplicably raced from his goal as Kitson battled Sol Campbell in the right-back position, and a neat first touch from the striker gave him the chance to crash a left-foot shot into the unguarded net from 20 yards. Game on and it was when Defender Hreidarsson raced forward to outjump the struggling Brynjar Gunnarsson and reach Sylvain Distin's left-foot cross, flicking home a header as Hahnemann was left grasping at thin air. Well that has to be it I said now all we need to do is score again or and hang on to the win, but Diop who stuck out an arm to parry Kitson's attempted pass right under the nose of referee Mark Halsey. Shorey's resulting spot-kick was struck firmly, but was superbly kept out by James who guessed right to protect the lead. I was now getting dizzy this was real fun and with an extra pint in me I felt good, then Benjani made certain of victory I hoped as he completed his hat-trick five minutes later. Then it was time for another goal this time from Kranjcar a header at close rang gave him his first goal of the season this was followed by Reading responding again, James Harper's left-foot volley deflecting in off substitute Shane Long, who appeared to be in an offside position. Now I was dizzy and no voice left needed a beer this was fun. It was then time for Davis to score with a big deflection from long range then Muntari struck again from the spot in injury time before Shorey's deflected effort flew in to set a new Premiership record for the most aggregate goals scored in a single match. I was in the toilet when we got the pen nature calls but I got out to see the last to goals. I think that is about it that was THE game of the decade and a Prem high scoring record! So roll on Fulham away next Sunday. Phew that was fun but not for Reading Play Up Pompey!!!
Pompeygary’s Man of the match Benjani first hat trick and now on 5 goals
Pompeygary’s Worst Man Hunt nuff said
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Davis, Diop, Muntari, Kranjcar, Mwaruwari (Nugent 80).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Taylor, Pamarot, Pedro Mendes.
Booked: Taylor.
Goals: Mwaruwari 7, 37, Hreidarsson 55, Mwaruwari 70, Kranjcar 75, Davis 81, Muntari 90 pen.
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty (Long 77), Duberry, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Rosenior, Gunnarsson (Fae 77), Harper, Hunt, Doyle, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Lita, Bikey.
Booked: Duberry.
Goals: Hunt 45 Att: 20,102.
Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
