Parkinson: I feel sick to the stomach
ALTRINCHAM boss Phil Parkinson said he felt like “his guts had been ripped out of him” after Portsmouth’s winner FOUR minutes into stoppage time brought their epic FA Cup run to an end at Fratton Park.
The National League North side were more than a match for their League One opponents throughout and thought they had salvaged another famous cup result after Josh Hancock cancelled out Ben Close’s opener for Portsmouth seven minutes from time.
But with the visiting fans celebrating, Pompey sub Brett Pitman climbed off the bench to break their hearts with the sucker punch to leave boss Parkinson almost speechless afterwards.
“I’m extremely proud and I’m struggling to talk to be honest,” Parkinson said.
“It shows how emotional the FA Cup is, I feel like I’ve had my guts ripped out of me.
“To come away from Portsmouth, I shake my head at the words I’m about to say, we’ve let them off the hook right at the death with 10 seconds to go.
“The players felt we could have gone on to win the game let alone draw it.
“To compete with a team that have won this competition and been in Europe, this was the toughest draw we could have had and to go so close, it’s soul destroying.”
Three divisions between the sides counted for nothing in the end as Parkinson’s men went for the jugular from the off and never relinquished.
But perhaps a hint of the heartache that was to come was bestowed upon Parkinson as early as the 11th minute when Pompey’s converted defender Oli Hawkins appeared to trip the lively Jordan Hulme in the box but referee Tom Nield waved away the strong protests.
Ellis Harrison’s effort against a post on 25 minutes was as close as 2008 FA Cup winners Pompey came to taking the lead in the first half while Hulme was also denied by the woodwork after Ronan Curtis had inexplicably given the ball away twice in quick succession just before halftime.
But despite Alty enjoying the lion’s share of possession and chances, it was Pompey who went ahead, somewhat undeservedly, on 56 minutes courtesy of a trademark volley from Close – the midfielder lashing home his volley, right-footed from 15 yards into the top corner.
Credit to Alty, they never gave up the ghost and Parkinson’s men finally got the breakthrough they deserved on 82 minutes when referee Nield did eventually point to the spot after Christian Burgess had brought down Hulme and Hancock slotted past Craig MacGillivray to spark joyous scenes in the Fratton Park away end.
But with the fans already contemplating a lucrative replay at Moss Lane, Marcus Harness swung over a corner which was flicked on for the experienced Pitman to head home with virtually the last kick of the game.
Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett was full of praise for the Step 2 side afterwards, commenting: “Congratulations to Altrincham, they played very well.
“It felt like a game that could go either way, they gave us problems in the early part of the game when we were a little wasteful.
“We got ahead with a great volley from Ben Close and the goalkeeper didn’t have a chance but we didn’t capitalise on the openings and we left the door open and they got the penalty.
“Christian Burgess said the ref was correct to give the penalty. He felt he was about to pull the trigger and he had to make the challenge and I’ve got no complaints.
“It’s great to see us score from a set piece in the 94th minute and get the winner, it’s not something we do very often.”