CITY 2 PORTSMOUTH 1

Canon League Division 2

11th February 1984

attendance 23,138

Scorers
City Tolmie(80 pen), Reid(90)
Portsmouth Wood(41)

Ref Keith Hackett

City Williams, Lomax, May, Bond, Power, McCarthy, McNab, Baker, Parlane, Kinsey, Tolmie – sub Reid(70)

Portsmouth Knight, McLaughlin, Sullivan, Doyle, Tait, Aizlewood, Webb, Dillon, Hateley, Morgan, Wood – sub Stanley(unused)

NICKY REID CRACKS IN THE WINNER

FROM THE PRESS BOX

PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 11TH FEBRUARY 1984
City dramatically snatched victory from the jaws of defeat here today.
Substitute Nicky Reid scored a sensational injury time winner after Portsmouth had been cruising to what seemed a deserved victory.
The turning point came in the 80th minute when Jim Tolmie scored a penalty that wiped out the 41st minute lead Paul Wood had given spirited Pompey.
Then with almost the last kick of the game, Reid, who had replaced injured Derek Parlane, threw City a promotion lifeline after Portsmouth goalkeeperAlan Knight had pushed a Graham Baker shot on to the crossbar.
Bond and Reid had both recovered from injury, leaving City standing by the 12 on duty for last week’s 1-1 draw at Grimsby. Portsmouth were also unchanged despite a 4-1 mauling by Newcastle, one of the Blues’ promotion rivals.
Tolmie went close with the game just two minutes old. His wicked low shot was parried by Knight, desperately scrambling along his line. The ball broke loose and Tait tidied up for the visitors.
There was an even better chance for Portsmouth with just five minutes gone.
Webb and Wood worked the ball across the face of the City penalty area, and when Dillon took over unmarked on the left he carelessly spooned the ball high over the bar with only Williams to beat.
… Portsmouth were certainly giving as much as they were taking, and Bond did well to squeeze the ball back to Willias as Morgan threatened through the middle.
Hateley outjumped Lomax to head the ball on for Dillon, who moved menacingly down the flank only to cross behind.
An error by McNab almost let in Pompey after 14 minutes. The City midfielder was caught in possession midway inside his own half and Dillon cut loose to bring a fine save from Williams.
When the ball skidded off the head of Aizlewood it provided further attacking scope for City. Kinsey was quick to spot the potential opening although when he crossed to the near post McLaughlin headed behind and from Power’s flag kick McCarty’s effort flew wide.
… City’s football was at times delightful to watch, but the sheer naked aggression of Portsmouth was denying the home side both space and time they needed on the ball.
Hateley did have the ball in the City net four minutes from half time when he rose high to head in a Webb cross, but it was disallowed for an infringement.
But in that same 41st minute Portsmouth did take the lead, and deservedly so.
Hateley drifted wide to the left and crossed to perfection for Wood at the near post to beat Williams with a neat glancing header.
Half-time: Manchester City 0 Portsmouth 1
… City’s commitment to all out attack was leaving them exposed at the back, and full marks must go to Lomax in easing the ball clear in a three against two situation.
Parlane finished up limping painfully following a block tackle with Aizlewood and finally limped off in the 70th minute, and was replaced by Reid.
But then tragedy for Portsmouth. In the 80th minute, Tait, outstanding for the South Coast side was harshly adjudged to have handled, and Tolmie tucked away the penalty to throw City a lifeline in all honesty they hadn’t really deserved.
In the 90th minute, injury time in fact, City won the game with Reid driving the ball in from close range after Knight had only pushed a Baker drive on to the crossbar.