Mixed game for young guns as term ends with another draw
The final day of an unmemorable season may be one to forget for Josh Oluwayemi, yet for other Pompey youngsters perhaps an exciting glimpse of the future.
Paddy Lane capped steady blossoming with a maiden Blues goal, while Di’Shon Bernard posted another reminder why he must be signed in the summer.
Throw in Ryley Towler and a 2-2 draw at home to Wycombe yesterday offered plenty of encouragement for whatever another summer of rebuilding may bring.
Indeed, had Connor Ogilvie netted one of his five chances, the campaign would have ended with a victory to accompany clinching eighth spot in League One.
On the flip side of an entertaining game there was Oluwayemi, having been handed a rare league start.
In his 64 minutes on the pitch, he was at fault for the Chairboys’ opener, later beaten from 45 yards by Lewis Wing’s shot, then forced off through a worrying injury.
Certainly Pompey fans will be wishing the 22-year-old all the best after leaving the field wearing an oxygen mask, albeit walking, following a collision with Sam Vokes.
However, it proved a difficult match for Oluwayemi, having been put into the team through the head coach’s desire to see the goalkeeper in action ahead of finalising his retained list.
Still, it was an entertaining Pompey performance in the south coast sun, watched by an 18,286 crowd, which also contained 2008 FA Cup finalwinning skipper Sol Campbell.
Oluwayemi replaced Luton loanee Matt Macey in one of two Blues changes from the previous weekend’s 1-1 draw at Derby. Joe Pigott also dropped to the bench and Tom Lowery replaced him.
Pompey started the match brightly and, on three minutes, Wycombe keeper Max Stryjek was drawn into his first save.
Lane’s corner from the right was half cleared and fell invitingly into the path of Lowery, who connected with a first-time left-footed shot from inside the box.
The midfielder didn’t quite catch it cleanly, although still forced Stryjek into a sprawling stop.
The Blues should have taken the lead on eight minutes following a lovely move down the right.
Lowery slipped a pass through to Joe Rafferty, who squared it to the back post, where Ogilvie was arriving.
The defender connected with a left-footed shot from inside the six-yard box, but Stryjek pulled off a brilliant point-blank stop to thwart him.
At the other end, on 12 minutes a bouncing ball down the middle caused problems for Oluwayemi as Sam Vokes challenged aerially, but the hosts managed to clear.
Then Garath McCleary cut in from the left and drove in a fierce low shot which Oluwayemi did well to push away.
It was Wycombe who broke the deadlock on 29 minutes following a mistake by Pompey’s young keeper.
He attempted to play the ball to Rafferty down the right, but instead it was intercepted by McCleary, allowing him to charge through on goal.
The winger then unleashed a right-footed shot which went through Oluwayemi to end up in the back of the net.
The Fratton End immediately began applauding the 22-year-old in a classy attempt to boost the confidence of the ex-Spurs man.
Nonetheless, the Blues remained confident on the ball, and were pushing positively trying to secure the leveller.
Lane went close with a leftfooted shot from the edge of the area which had Stryjek pushing it behind when it appeared to be sneaking in.
Then, on 42 minutes, Michael Jacobs’ corner from the left was met with a near-post header from Marlon Pack and it was deservedly 1-1.
With the match all-square at the break, upon the restart Joe Morrell had a glorious chance to give Pompey the lead, yet his right-footed shot from the edge of the box flew high into the Fratton End.
However,Wycombewould regain the advantage on 51 minutes through a stunning goal from Wing, which had some of the Fratton faithful applauding.
There was absolutely no danger in the centre of the pitch when the Wycombe man controlled the ball on his chest, allowed it to bounce twice and struck a right-footed shot.
It was fully 45 yards out, yet sailed over the head of Oluwayemi and into Pompey’s net.
There was a nervy moment on 61 minutes when a Wycombe shot from outside the box couldn’t be gathered by Oluwayemi, who ended up bringing down Vokes instead.
Fortunately, the linesman’s flag was raised for offside to spare the debate about awarding a penalty, although the Blues’ keeper had taken a blow to his head.
That marked the end of his participation, leaving the field wearing an oxygen mask, with Macey introduced.
It marked a double substitution for the Blues, with Jacobs coming off for Pigott.
Pompey levelled again in the 72nd minute, with Pigott in the thick of it.
His wicked cross from the left somehow found its way to the far post, where a stooping header from Lane went into the far bottom corner of the net.
In the 86th minute, Stryjek pulled off a stunning fingertip save to deny Pigott’s classy clip over his head but there was to be no winner for either side.
So it’s on to a summer rebuild and the next rebuild designed to end what will now be seven seasons in League One.