Andy Parkinson was the hero for the second time in as many matches as Tranmere
pulled off an unlikely FA Cup victory.
Parkinson scored Rovers' winner on New Year's day against Sheffield United and
he popped up again in the second half to break depleted Portsmouth's hearts and
put Rovers through to the fourth round.
Parkinson cut inside Jason Crowe in the box before beating debut keeper Chris
Tardiff at his near post with a low left-foot drive.
It gave the visitors a victory they scarcely deserved and left Portsmouth
wondering how on earth they had managed to lose.
Steve Claridge's makeshift side got off to a flying start, Lee Bradbury ending
his goal drought in the seventh minute.
Rovers goalkeeper John Achterberg made a hash of an attempted clearance. It
was partially blocked by Luke Nightingale and Bradbury slotted his first goal
for 10 games into an empty net.
Achterberg went from villain to hero for Rovers with a string of fine saves in
the first half.
He produced a brilliant one-handed stop to keep out Thomas Thogersen's angled
drive.
The flying Dutchman then somehow managed to foil Nightingale's first time shot
from a Kevin Harper cross.
Nightingale also clipped the crossbar and Portsmouth could have been out of
sight by the break.
But Rovers almost levelled when Clint Hill headed against the foot of the post
from a Gareth Roberts free-kick.
They did not have to wait long to restore parity, Steve Yates equalising with
a downward header from a Sean Flynn centre moments before the interval.
Achterberg continued to keep Portsmouth at bay in the second half. He produced
another superb stop, this time with his legs, to deny Portsmouth captain Darren
Moore.
The home side could not make their pressure count and they were killed off by
Parkinson's sucker punch on 68 minutes.
Rovers were reduced to 10 men a minute later. Roberts, cautioned in the first
half for hand ball, saw red when he chopped down winger Harper.
Claridge brought himself on in place of Nightingale in a frantic finale, but
robust Rovers managed to hold out.
They also had six other players booked by busy referee Dermot Gallagher,
including hero Achterberg for time wasting.
Teams:
Portsmouth: Tardiff, Crowe, Hiley, Moore, Harper,
Rudonja (Hughes 71), Derry, Thogersen, Quashie, Bradbury,
Nightingale (Claridge 83).
Subs Not Used: Miglioranzi, Panopoulos, Pettersen.
Booked: Harper.
Goals: Bradbury 8.
Tranmere: Achterberg, Allen, Jobson, Hinds, Yates, Flynn, Hill,
Roberts, Rideout (Gill 45), Parkinson, Barlow (Scott Taylor 61).
Subs Not Used: Murphy, Hume, Hazell.Sent Off: Roberts (71).
Booked: Roberts, Hinds, Flynn, Gill, Allen, Jobson.
Goals: Yates 44, Parkinson 69.
Att: 11,058
Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).
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