20th February 2016

Yeovil shared the points with League Two playoff hopefuls Portsmouth despite the visitors being reduced to ten men in a game that livened up in a frantic second half.

Francois Zoko thought that he had won the game with fifteen minutes to go with a poacher’s finish in the box, before Christian Burgess saw red after bringing down Ryan Dickson after being booked two minutes before.

But Gary Roberts levelled for Portsmouth with a left foot volley late on to give the visitors what would have seemed an unlikely point following the red card, despite a few half chances in second half injury time.

In their first home fixture after three consecutive away games, Yeovil started brightly as they attacked towards the away terrace, with Dolan unlucky to not open the scoring just five minutes in with an acrobatic volley.

With half an hour gone, Yeovil again had a good chance to go in front. Good play from Liam Walsh saw the Everton loanee put Tahvon Campbell in behind the Pompey right back, and after twisting his marker the striker was unlucky that his shot rolled just past the post for a goal kick.

Walsh nearly grabbed a goal himself, but his goal bound volley inside the Pompey box was cleared off the line by Burgess, as Yeovil looked to go in front before half-time but both teams went in goalless.

Five minutes after the interval, Portsmouth nearly grabbed the first goal of the afternoon as Gary Roberts wriggled free in the box but his right footed shot was palmed away strongly by Krysiak.

Close almost opened the scoring on fifty-five minutes with a low drive, but Yeovil done the same just three minutes later. Zoko turned away from Christian Burgess inside the area, but his powerful shot was parried away by Fulton.

Ben Tozer was the first name in referee Mark Haywood’s book for a foul as Bennett was running at the Yeovil defence on the break, and Bournemouth loanee Brandon Goodship was introduced for his Glovers debut with twenty minutes to go.

The opening goal finally arrived with fifteen minutes to go as a short corner was crossed into the Pompey box and caused havoc. The ball fell to Tozer, who teed up ZOKO who smashed his shot past Fulton to send three sides of Huish Park into raptures.

Portsmouth were reduced to ten men with as many minutes to go as Burgess received two yellow cards in a matter of minutes, the second for a scything challenge on ex-Southampton left back Dickson as he ran through on goal.

But Pompey equalised with five minutes left. A ball into the box caused confusion was volleyed home by the winger ROBERTS to bring the score level. The visitors pushed hard for a winner in front of their large travelling support but Yeovil stood firm despite a few nervous moments at the end.

Yeovil starting XI: Krysiak- Roberts, Ward, Sokolik, Dickson- Tozer, Dolan, Walsh- Campbell (Goodship 68’), Zoko (Bird 90’), Cornick (Gillett 86’)

Subs not used: Weale- Lacey, Laird.

Fulton; Davies, Burgess, Webster, Stevens; Close, Doyle (c); Evans (Tollitt 40’), Roberts, Bennett (McNulty 72’); Smith (McGurk 80’)

Subs not used: Bass, Clarke, Barton, Naismith.

6051 (2088 away)