Steve Claridge's fourth goal in four games was enough to give Portsmouth a
much needed victory over Huddersfield.
Claridge struck after just three minutes to earn a valuable three points for
Alan Ball's relegation haunted team.
He cut in from the left wing and beat two Huddersfield defenders before firing
a low shot past Nico Vaesen into the bottom corner.
Pompey almost added a second goal two minutes later when Jeff Peron saw his
20-yard effort deflected inches over the Huddersfield crossbar.
Peter Jackson's promotion hopefuls struggled to get into the game and Claridge
almost added a second, firing just wide from 18 yards.
But Huddersfield began to find their game and push forward looking for the
equalising goal.
Wayne Allison saw a far post header well saved by Andy Petterson before Sam
Collins saw another effort cleared off the line by Fitzroy Simpson.
Pompey almost doubled their lead minutes before half-time when Claridge's shot
took a deflection and Vaesen was forced to make a desperate save at his near
post.
Pompey started the second half the brighter side and almost struck early when
Claridge crossed for David Hillier but he failed to direct the ball on target.
Grant Johnson then got behind the Portsmouth defence but he scuffed his shot
when well-placed to level the score for Huddersfield.
Pompey then started to try and catch their visitors on the counter-attack and
Luke Nightingale could have done better from 12 yards.
Jackson then through on Paul Barnes and Delroy Facey as he searched for an
equaliser.
And Facey almost carved an opening for Marcus Stewart but the substitute's
cross was just behind the oncoming striker.
Nightingale then shot wide from a cross from Sammy Igoe before Claridge again
tested Vaesen in the Huddersfield goal.
And in the final minute only a superb save from Petterson kept out a Stewart
effort and following a scramble in the goal mouth Pompey hacked the ball away to
secure the points.
Teams
Portsmouth: Petterson, Robinson, Simpson, Hillier, Whitbread,
Perrett, Nightingale (Phillips 84), Peron, Vlachos, Claridge,
Igoe.
Subs Not Used: Waterman, Thogersen.
Goals: Claridge 4.
Huddersfield: Vaesen, Jenkins, Edwards, Johnson, Hessey, Gray,
Collins (Barnes 69), Phillips (Facey 77), Stewart, Allison,
Cowan.
Subs Not Used: Heary.
Att: 10,334
Ref: J Brandwood (Lichfield).
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