Portsmouth extended their unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions with a thrilling comeback victory over Cheltenham Town in a nine-goal clash.
The hosts created the opening chances through a series of crosses and corners, but the Robin’s defence stood firm to keep the score level.
Despite Portsmouth’s early attacking pressure, it was the visitors who struck first. With less than 10 minutes played, Chloe Snook found the back of the net after a corner evaded everyone in the box, giving Cheltenham an early lead.
Pompey responded by pushing forward in search of an equaliser and were rewarded before half-time. Kerry Beattie stepped up to take a penalty and calmly sent the ball into the bottom-right corner to bring the hosts level.
Both sides continued to enjoy spells of possession and created further opportunities, but neither could find a breakthrough before the interval.
HT: Portsmouth 1-1 Cheltenham Town
Portsmouth wasted little time taking control after the restart, moving ahead less than two minutes into the second half. Georgie Freeland found herself unmarked in the six-yard box and tapped home a low pass from outside the penalty area to put the hosts 2-1 ahead.
Pompey continued to pile pressure on the Cheltenham defence as they looked to extend their lead, and their efforts soon paid off.
In the 55th minute, Reanne Blades brought down an incoming cross with her chest before striking the ball into the net without allowing it to touch the ground, doubling the home side’s advantage.
Just three minutes later, Beattie grabbed her second goal of the afternoon. The forward was on hand to convert a pass from outside the penalty area, putting the home side firmly in control at 4-1.
However, Cheltenham refused to give up and began to find more opportunities as the game opened up. In the 70th minute, Snook capitalised on a misplaced pass from the Portsmouth defence before unleashing a powerful strike to claim her second goal of the afternoon and reduce the deficit to 4-2.
Pompey restored their three-goal cushion less than 10 minutes later. Captain Jazz Bull recovered possession in midfield before attempting a long-range effort from outside the penalty area. Her strike clipped the left-hand post on its way into the net, making it 5-2 to the hosts.
The Robins continued to search for a way back into the contest and pulled another goal back in the 85th minute. Leo Joyce rose to meet a cross from deep, heading the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net to make it 5-3.
Any hopes of a late comeback were quickly extinguished, however, as Portsmouth produced the goal of the afternoon just a minute later. Jemima Dahou unleashed a spectacular long-range strike that curled over the Cheltenham defence and into the top-right corner, restoring the hosts’ three-goal advantage at 6-3.
With little time remaining, Pompey saw out the closing stages to secure an impressive victory in a pulsating encounter.
FT: Portsmouth Women 6-3 Cheltenham Town Women
The nine-goal thriller marked the highest-scoring match of the season so far in the Women’s National League Southern Premier Division, with the home side extending their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions.
There will be little time for either side to reflect on the result, as the teams meet again at Fratton Park this Sunday in the Women’s FA Cup. Portsmouth will be looking to repeat their dominant performance, while Cheltenham will be eager to respond and put the defeat behind them.
