Pompey 1 Gillingham 0
towering header
By Matt Lond & J Bateman
February 23 2003
Pompey remain top of the First despite only scoring once past a tough Gillingham side today.
1-0 Att: 19,521 A rare Arjan de Zeeuw goal helped
Portsmouth continue their march to Premiership as they beat battling Gillingham
even though they did not produce one of their best performances of the season
but still managed to earn three points. It took a few minutes for the first shot
to be struck with Gillingham's Guy Ipoua driving the ball wide. Pompey had a
chance to score but Kevin Harper's shot was blocked by Gills player-manager Andy
Hessenthaler. The game then began to open up and Pompey's Tim Sherwood fired
wide and both teams were creating some useful openings and keeper Shaka Hislop
had to be alert to deny Shaw from close range. Portsmouth's strikers had been
subdued before the break but they were more involved after the restart and
Yacubu Ayiegbini had a shot blocked by Barry Ashby. It wasn't any of the attack
who scored the winner as the surprising figure of de Zeeuw put Harry Redknapp's
men ahead in the 58th minute when Merson took a free-kick from the left and the
defender headed the ball home at the far post to net. The Gills tried to level
but Wallace and Shaw wasted chances as Pompey held on.
Reports Courtesy Of Matt Lond
Portsmouth
Gillingham
de Zeuw 58
