Cruel late twist snatches victory from Pompey
Friday, 3rd Apr 2015 18:14 by pompey-fans.com staff

A 95th-minute equaliser ruined Pompey's day and that of the 700-plus fans who'd made the 350-mile trip to see them at Carlisle.

The ref indicated four minutes of added time but it was well into the fifth when Charlie Wyke pounced for the Cumbrian hosts' equaliser.

Jed Wallace's superb long-range goal and Matt Tubbs' strike right on half-time had seemingly put Pompey on course for three points.

Josh Passley, Dan Butler, Wes Fogden and Nigel Atangana were all restored to the starting line-up but Pompey, in their yellow strip, were behind within two minutes as Kyle Dempsey volleyed in beyond Paul Jones' dive when a cross was only half-cleared.

It was nip and tuck for a while with both sides carving out half-chances but it was a stunning goal from Wallace that pulled Pompey level seven minutes before the break, his sweetly-hit shot from about 30 yards going in off the underside of the bar.

And things got better for Pompey on the stroke of half-time when Wallace was played into space by Butler and sent over a low cross that Tubbs tucked away.

Nyron Nosworthy replaced Ben Chorley at the start of the second half but Pompey's recent defensive injury problems continued within minutes as Nosworthy needed stitches to a head wound and himself had to be replaced by Adam Webster.

Wallace, Tubbs and Taylor - the latter with a well-taken strike that was ruled offside - all had chances to make Pompey's superior performance count with a third goal for the visitors.

In truth they had few scares at the back but as the game went into its fifth minute of stoppage time - four having been indicated and no significant stoppages occurring in the added-on period - Wyke slotted in to leave Pompey with one point when three had seemed certain.

Plymouth visit Fratton on Easter Monday.

Pompey: Jones; Passley, Devera, Chorley (c) (Nosworthy 46 (Webster 54)), Butler; Dunne, Atangana; Wallace, Fogden, Tubbs (Hollands 84); Taylor. Subs not used: Cornell, Close, Chaplin, Westcarr.

Referee: Nigel Miller

Attendance: 5,230 (789 Pompey fans)