Hattrick af spiller på prøve.
Ingen kendte ham før kampen, men Gassan Ahadme – en af adskillige spillere på prøve for Pompey i disse dage – gjorde i al fald sit til også at få chancen i de kommende testkampe, uanset at modstanderen til daglig blot spiller i National League South. Ahadme har spillet spillet for Norwich Citys U23 mandskab, og tidligere en spansk amatørklub.
Kampen blev indledt med et minuts stilhed efter bortgangen af Paul Mariner, som spillede som angriber for os mellem 1986 og 1988 med 56 kampe og 9 mål til følge. Startelleveren måtte betegnes som dem som Danny Cowley regner med vil være tættest på den stærkeste opstilling, mens der efter pausen primært blev spilletid til ukendte navne og spillere på prøve. Derfor må det have givet ham panderynker, at det var den sidstnævnte flok som slap klart bedst fra kampen om end en del af forklaringen kan være, at de kom ind med friske ben mens hjemmeholdet ikke på samme måde skiftede ud i pausen. På den måde blev kampforløbet nærmest et spejlbillede af tirsdagens lukkede træningskamp mod QPR.
Gavin Bazunu, Sean Raggett og Liam Vincent sad alle ude med småskader og var ikke en del af truppen denne eftermiddag.
Den officielle kamprapport
Kommentarer fra Danny Cowley efter kampen
“It was nice just to see football supporters at a game again – or even just in the car park before kick-off. I’ve made some of them down along the seafront or at Gunwharf, but having them there in a football setting was great. I love the game and I know they do, but it’s been missing that key ingredient of emotion over the past 16 months. You want that passion and it was brilliant to hear some noise and for them to really get behind the team. We know how much this football club means to people and will try our best to create something they can all be proud to be associated with.”
“It was a competitive match against Havant & Waterlooville. We didn’t play with the energy and intensity we would have liked before the break. But we were significantly better in the second half and looked much more powerful and athletic, so that was pleasing.”
Hvad Lee Brown havde at sige om kampen
“There’s a long way to go before the start of the season and a lot of us to work on, but it’s just nice to get some minutes under the belt. I’ve had pre-seasons where I’ve won every game and then lost the first five league matches, while there have been times when we’ve lost them all and been top at Christmas. So results don’t mean much at this stage and it’s more about getting where you need to be physically. We’re also going away to St George’s Park next week and that will give the new lads some time to settle in. You’re not going to be right at it from the very start and just have to keep building momentum ahead of August 7.”
“The best thing about this game was for the fans to be there and it always helps to have a bit of noise behind you when you’re playing. It did feel a little bit strange to see them back again, but even just having 3,000 there was fantastic. It’s certainly been missed.”
Træningskamp, Draper Tools Community Stadium, 10. juli 2021
Havant & Waterlooville – Portsmouth 2-5 (2-1)
11. minut: 1-0 Tommy Wright
18. minut: 1-1 Ryan Tunnicliffe
31. minut: 2-1 James Roberts
55. minut: 2-2 Gassan Ahadme
56. minut: 2-3 Gassan Ahadme
69. minut: 2-4 Reeco Hackett-Fairchild
81. minut: 2-5 Gassan Ahadme
Advarsler: ingen
Udvisninger: ingen
Tilskuere: Ikke oplyst
Interview med Danny Cowley efter slutfløjtet
