Blues end 2015 with 4-3 defeat
Pompey Ladies were beaten in a seven-goal thriller at Basildon in their final match of 2015.
They started brightly, but fell behind after just 10 minutes when Amy Nash collected a cross and slotted home.
That failed to dampen the visitors’ spirit, however, and Lucy Quinn twice came close to finding an equaliser.
But Ini Umotong did draw the Blues level five minutes before the break, latching onto Molly Clark’s pass and chipping the keeper before nodding into the net.
And there was still time for both sides to add to the scoring before the half-time whistle.
First Umotong converted Katie George’s pin-point cross with a great diving header to give Pompey the lead.
But they were pegged back almost immediately when Karissa Rodney burst clear and lobbed Courtney Trodd.
Zoe Rushen then fired the hosts ahead from the penalty spot just past the hour mark after Trodd was penalised for a foul in the box.
The goals kept coming and this time it was Pompey who were on target when Quinn’s opportunistic effort from 35 yards sailed over the keeper.
But it was Basildon who secured victory on 77 minutes when Maegan Doyle fed Rodney, who calmly slotted home her second of the afternoon.
Blues boss Perry Northeast said: “It was an end-to-end game and any watching neutrals would have enjoyed themselves.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite as fun looking on from the dug-outs and we haven’t been able to get the result we all wanted.
“It’s disappointing to end the year with a defeat after a positive run of results in recent weeks.
“A draw would perhaps have been a fairer result, but Basildon caught us on the break a couple of times and finished well.
“Not enough of the performances from our players reached the standard that is required for this level.
“There are no easy games in this division these days and we have to perform better than that if we want to be successful.”
Pompey: Trodd; Taylor, Atkinson (Benson 72), Rutherford, Siwevwright; Kempson, Clark, Hillier (Stephens 80), Quinn; George, Umotong
Subs not used: Samain, Currie, James