Reporter makes editor work for his money
By Andy Barnard
This was going to be a fully-interactive role-playing
report on the second half of the match, but in all
honesty there wasn't a whole load of interaction so
here's a rundown of the roles the players played:
Chamberlain made occasional saves from Portsmouth
players, after which he'd invariably launch the ball
into the middle of the Portsmouth half. The other role
he played was stopping awkward back-passes from the
Watford defence, which he'd invariably miskick because
of the slithery surface.
Robinson, Ward, Page and Kennedy would either tidy up
at the back and then play slithery passes back to
Chamberlain, or else play the ball to Smith, Hyde or
Helguson.
Panayi was destined not to play any role in the second
half as he'd been taken off (injured, apparently) and
replaced by Hyde.
Palmer, Nielsen and Vernazza were also destined not to
play any significant role in the second half.
Hyde would go haring up the right wing whenever he got
the ball, often getting a useful cross in.
Smith would make a monkey out of half a dozen
Portsmouth players whenever he got the ball, then
either finish with a useful cross or shot or else get
knocked off the ball by the last line of defence.
Helguson is the subject of the interactive role-playing bit of this
report.
At the end of ninety minutes it was announced that there
would be one minute of added on time. However, it was
raining so the referee blew his whistle after twenty-five
seconds.
