2 years ago
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'There was a chance the game could have been called off,' without the fan volunteering to run the lineYou never know when you might be called into action, as one fan found out when he ran the line in Portsmouth's goalless League One draw with Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
Not one but two assistant referees were injured, leading to an appeal for qualified officials at Fratton Park.
Fourth official Stephen Brown took over in the first half but was replaced himself early in the second, with a supporter from the South Stand coming to the rescue for the final 35 minutes plus an additional 21 minutes of stoppage time.
Robins boss Wade Elliot told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "I think they should all have a curry and four pints before coming on, it seemed to do the trick.
"He was probably the best official we've had this year.
"I did worry when he walked (on) and gave the messiah salute to the North Stand, but it's one of those things - the players dealt with it really well. It would have been easy to have lost focus.
"I went in and spoke to them, gave them the thanks, asked them what they wanted to do and they were 'bring it on'."
How a 'surreal' afternoon played out
Pompey boss John Mousinho dubbed it "a surreal afternoon," as his side missed the chance to go top after a stalemate which will live in the memory more for events off the field than those on it.
Brown was called up on 35 minutes when one of the assistant referees suffered an apparent calf injury before he found himself unable to continue after the break.
Referee Ben Toner disappeared down the tunnel with the ball, followed soon after by the Cheltenham players, with an announcement over the public address system for qualified officials in the ground to make themselves known.
After a fan emerged from the South Stand and got changed, another warm-up took place and play resumed with 35 minutes of normal time on the clock.
The final whistle eventually sounded at a late 17:22 BST.
Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: "There was a chance the game could have been called off, particularly because no one knew of the linesman's affiliation as he came down from the stand.
"The away team could have said no they didn't agree with him officiating the match, but they didn't, so credit to them."
Line-ups
Portsmouth
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Norris
- 17Rafferty
- 5Poole
- 18Shaughnessy
- 6Ogilvie
- 7PackSubstituted forSaydeeat 78'minutes
- 16Morrell
- 11WhyteSubstituted forKamaraat 65'minutes
- 8RobertsonSubstituted forLaneat 90+4'minutes
- 10ScullySubstituted forSparkesat 65'minutes
- 9Bishop
Substitutes
- 2Swanson
- 15Saydee
- 20Raggett
- 21Sparkes
- 25Kamara
- 31Schofield
- 32Lane
Cheltenham
Formation 3-4-3
- 1SouthwoodBooked at 84mins
- 2Long
- 33Davies
- 6Freestone
- 22SmithSubstituted forD'Auria-Henryat 51'minutes
- 8SercombeBooked at 30mins
- 14ThompsonBooked at 54minsSubstituted forAdsheadat 76'minutes
- 15FerrySubstituted forChapmanat 85'minutes
- 11Street
- 10KeenaSubstituted forWilliamsat 75'minutes
- 9Goodwin
Substitutes
- 3Williams
- 4Bradbury
- 16Adshead
- 18Chapman
- 20Harris
- 27D'Auria-Henry
- 29King
Referee:Ben Toner
Attendance:17,454
Live Text
Match ends, Portsmouth 0, Cheltenham Town 0.
Second Half ends, Portsmouth 0, Cheltenham Town 0.
Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Robert Street (Cheltenham Town).
Attempt saved. Conor Shaughnessy (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Substitution, Portsmouth. Paddy Lane replaces Alex Robertson.
Attempt missed. Christian Saydee (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Luciano D'Auria-Henry.
Joe Rafferty (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Will Goodwin (Cheltenham Town).
Foul by Joe Rafferty (Portsmouth).
Lewis Freestone (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Jack Sparkes (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Luciano D'Auria-Henry (Cheltenham Town).
Foul by Joe Morrell (Portsmouth).
Will Goodwin (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Ellis Chapman replaces Will Ferry.
Attempt missed. Will Goodwin (Cheltenham Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sean Long with a cross.
Luke Southwood (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
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