Portsmouth FC 22/23

PORTSMOUTH

MORECAMBE

Pompey dropped more Easter points after being held to a frustrating draw by struggling Morecambe at Fratton Park. They had chances to secure the win, but did not really do enough to test Connor Ripley between the sticks until right at the death. John Mousinho made four changes from the side that were held to a draw at MK Dons on Good Friday. Three of them were enforced, with Joe Morrell starting a four-match ban and Michael Jacobs and Connor Ogilvie nursing knocks. That saw Ryan Tunnicliffe, Dane Scarlett and Denver Hume all handed starts, while Di’Shon Bernard made way for skipper Clark Robertson. It was clear from the start that the strong wind blowing around the ground was going to cause problems for both sides. But the home side were finding success with some neat passing football, causing their opponents plenty of problems and just looking for that final killer ball. It almost came from Owen Dale, who whipped in a superb cross from wide on the right that a stretching Colby Bishop was inches away from connecting with. They might have fallen behind on 26 minutes, though, with Cole Stockton spinning sharply and firing in a shot that Matt Macey turned around the post. That was the cue for the Blues to start moving through the gears and they quickly broke dangerously up the pitch. Dale sent Scarlett racing through, but he was forced wide by keeper Ripley and not able to pick out Bishop. Tom Lowery then angled a shot inches past the post – and did the same again moments later after being found by a delightful Bishop flick. The hosts were certainly knocking on the door, but the Shrimps managed to see out the remainder of the half to go in level at the break.
Portsmouth 0 Morecambe 0
Pompey struggled to regain their fluency once the action restarted, continuing to dominate possession, but being undone by some sloppy passing. And when Lowery was dispossessed by Dan Crowley, he released Jensen Weir, who fired straight into the arms of Macey. Hume soon whipped in a dangerous delivery at the other end of the pitch, but the ball was diverted away from Bishop’s head by Ryan Delaney. Mousinho made a switch just past the hour mark, as Scarlett made way for Reeco Hackett, with Dale moving to the left. And the newcomer was quickly involved in the action, hitting a shot that Ripley dealt with low to his left. An attacking substitution followed for the hosts on 66 minutes, with Joe Pigott introduced in place of Tunnicliffe. The breakthrough almost arrived when Hackett swung a corner into the box, but Stockton was well placed to clear Dale’s header off the line. And Hackett then sent a shot past the post after Robertson’s clearance had been nodded into his path by Bishop. Hackett was continuing to be a lively presence and hit a couple efforts off target as the Blues tried to find a way through. Fellow substitute Pigott went close to scoring on 84 minutes, glancing a header wide from Robertson’s delivery. But an untimely Marlon Pack slip sent Weir racing clear and he cut back for Jake Taylor, who wastefully blazed over the bar. Pompey committed plenty of men forward in search of a late winner and it almost arrived deep into stoppage-time. Hume swung in the cross and Hackett rose to meet it, but Ripley flung himself to the left to make a superb save and ensure Morecambe left with a point.

	PORTSMOUTH LINE-UP	MORECAMBE LINE-UP
	Macey	Ripley
	Rafferty	Love (c)
	Raggett	Rawson∎
	Robertson (c)	Delaney
	Hume	Souaré (Cooney 72)
	Lowery	Austerfield∎ (Simeu 87)
	Pack	Gibson
	Tunnicliffe (Pigott 66)	Weir
	Dale∎	Crowley
	Bishop∎	Mayor (Taylor 79)
	Scarlett (Hackett 61)	Stockton

	Referee: Ollie Yates

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