Skipper Proves He Is the Captain!!

By The Kid
November 22 2005

After a 3pm pitch inspection at The Rec, last night's Reserves game against Portsmouth went ahead with the home team winning 1-0 thanks to skipper, Danny Hollands 40th minute goal from a free-kick after Filipe Morais was sent bundling on the wing.

A half-hearted challenge from the Pompey defence with Chelsea's Michael Mancienne saw the ball cleared to the edge of the area where Hollands was waiting and he skillflully drilled the ball home low into the bottom corner of the net.

Portsmouth fielded a relatively strong team in respect of those with Premiership experience and no doubt in readiness for Saturday's clash at Fratton Park. But to be fair with the exception of an injury time free-kick Portsmouth didn't trouble Chelsea all night.

Mick McGiven welcomed back England Internationals at U18 and U19 level, Michael Mancienne and Anthony Grant and without a recognised striker, because of the absence of the Younghusband's, James Simmomds was asked to step in from the Academy.

Both Jack Watkins and Scott Sinclair who played for the Academy and scored against 'The Arsenal' on Saturday, made very very late substitute appearances.

Chelsea:

Lenny Pidgeley; Dean Smith, Adrian Pettigrew, Michael Mancienne, Jonas Elmer; Danny Hollands (capt), Joe Keenan, Anthony Grant; Filipe Morais, James Simmonds (Jack Watkins 90+2), Joe Tillen (Scott Sinclair 89).

Portsmouth:

Sander Westerveld, Aliou Cisse (Matthew Day 29), Harry Donaghey, Salif Diao, Linvoy Primus, Gary Silk, Franck Songo'o, Giannis Skolelitis, Azar Karadas (Kyle Swayne 75), Collins Mbesuma (Jack Compton 88), Daryl Fordyce.