Morecambe 1-1 Portsmouth
Sky Bet League One
The Mazuma Stadium
Monday 18 April 2022
Kick-Off: 3:00pm
Attendance: 4,893 (806 Pompey)
A first-half strike from Sean Raggett looked like it was enough for Danny Cowley’s side to secure all three points, but Jonah Ayunga last-gasp goal handed the Shrimps a well-earned point on home soil.
The first chance of the game fell to the home side as Dylan Connolly broke the Portsmouth back-line after 13 minutes.
A through ball from Cole Stockton was perfect for the Irishman as he looked to find an angle for a shot on goal, that’s what he did, bending a right-footed effort at goal but the ball dropped the wrong side of the post on that occasion.
Six minutes later the Shrimps were in again, this time it was Arthur Gnahoua who tried his luck from distance but there was goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu to make a crucial fingertip save to his left, which took Gnahoua’s effort onto a post and out for a corner.
It was then Stockton’s turn to test the Pompey number one, a fizzed ball into the box by Greg Leigh was hit first time by the striker which was saved down low by Bazunu, the ball popped out to Stockton once more, but again Bazunu saved from close range, this time with his legs.
With four minutes left of the first period, the visitors took the lead against the run of play.
A long ball into the box was headed on by Ronan Curtis, it was touched down superbly well by centre-half Raggett, who managed to swivel and get a shot off on goal which hit the post on its way into the back of Trevor Carson’s goal.
Half-time: Morecambe 0-1 Portsmouth
Wing-back Leigh tried his luck five minutes after the break, he cut inside onto his favoured left-foot but his effort did not trouble Bazunu in the Pompey goal.
On the 55th minute, the Shrimps came close to levelling the game up.
A through ball was overhit by a Shrimps man and gave goalkeeper Bazunu the chance to clear, he got his angles wrong and blasted it against Gnahoua, but he got a slice of luck with the ball ending up on the right side of the post for the relived Pompey ‘keeper.
Bazunu got lucky again as another back-pass to him was closed down by Adam Phillips this time, but again, the ball dropped the right side of the crossbar for the away side shot-stopper.
The Shrimps had a few near misses towards the end as headers from Alfie McCalmont and Phillips went begging with minutes to go.
Adams’ side would not be denied, a late corner from Leigh was spilled by Bazunu in the Pompey goal and there was Ayunga to sweep the ball home from close range.
Full-time: Morecambe 1-1 Portsmouth
Morecambe: Carson, Leigh, Bedeau, Stockton, Wildig (C) (Ayunga 60’), Connolly (Diagouraga 68’), Phillips, Gibson, Gnahoua, Fane (McCalmont 77’), Bennett.
Subs not used: Smith, O’Connor, McLoughlin, Cooney.
Goals: Ayunga 90+3’.
Bookings: Leigh 90+5'
Red cards: None.
Portsmouth: Bazunu, Robertson (C), Williams (Thompson 63’), Tunnicliffe, Curtis, Harness (Romeo 72’), Ogilvie, Carter, Hirst, Raggett, Jacobs (O’Brien 64’)
Subs not used: Webber, Walker, Vincent, Mingi.
Goals: Raggett 41’
Bookings: None
Red cards: None.