CITY SUNK LAST MINUTE BY SUB.

Exeter City 1 Portsmouth 2

Warren Aspinall scored the winner with only 2 minutes left to play and 5 minutes after he came onto the pitch as substitute for Chamberlain. A back heel from Steve Wigley found the unmarked Martin Kuhl who sent a deep cross into the far post for Aspinall to head home and kick City out of the F.A. Cup.

Early on, Paul Whitingham did well to cut out a cross from Guy Whittingham after Kevin Miller had failed to collect his centre in the City goal.

Miller was again at fault on 22 minutes and missed a cross from Warren Neil, luckily for City, Steve Williams came racing back to head the ball out for a corner. Darryl Powell then got around Jon Brown and shot at the City goal. Miller needed two attempts to hold his shot.

With the continuing Pompey pressure, John Beresford skipped past Brown and Hiley and cross to Whittingham who was 5 yards out from goal and Peter Whiston superbly blocked his shot that lacked fire power.

On 38 minutes, Mark Chamberlain headed just wide of the City goal, then Peter Whiston again rescued City after Miller palmed away a Chamberlain cross straight to Whittingham. The only real attacking threat that City had posed in the first half came from Scott Daniels and a teasing run by the super Gary Marshall.

A minute before lan Hemley blew for half time Portsmouth took the lead after it had looked as if City would end the half on level terms. The ball was given away by Wimbleton and picked up by Darren Anderton, who played on Whittingham. He then hit a left foot shot past Miller.

City boss Algn Ball made a couple of positional changes at half time which included pushing Andy Cook further up and dropping back Jon Brown. This seemed fruitful with Andy Cook using his speed to get past defenders.

Pompey looked to have scored again shortly after half time but Anderton's goal was ruled out for a foul on Scott Daniels.

On 55 minutes City levelled the scores. Wimbleton hit a long ball across field to Marshall. He picked out Moran with an excellent centre, and heading past Alan Knight and into the top corner.

From here on it was constant City pressure Marshall shot Knight from 33 yards and City followed this up by forcing four consecutive corners. A Scott Hiley cross was cleared from the feet of Moran by Awford. A shot from Andy Cook on the left was hit out by Knight and put away for a City corner. Eight minutes from time and the 'Bald Eagle', Jim Smith sent on Wigley and Aspinall who both combined well against the run of play to shock City who fully deserved a reply at Fratton Park.

Report by Philip Knowles.

Photos
1. Steve Moran heads.
2. Pompey 'keeper Alan Knight is beaten!