December 13-19: A Champagne Win Against Preston
Friday 17: Pompey can take another step towards going an entire calendar year without losing a home league match when they take on Preston North End at Fratton Park tomorrow (2.15pm). The final home match of 1948 will be against Chelsea on 27th December.
The Pompey team to face Preston at Fratton Park tomorrow will be: Butler, Rookes, Ferrier, Scoular, Flewin, Dickinson, Harris, Barlow, Clarke, Phillips, Froggatt.
Portsmouth Reserves travel to the Eastville Stadium to face Bristol Rovers Reserves tomorrow afternoon. Pompey: Humpston, Hindmarsh, Drummond, Neave, Bowler, Thompson, Brown, Delapenha, Reid, Lawler, Evans.
Pompey "A" are away at Botley in the Hampshire League tomorrow afternoon. In the third round of the Portsmouth Senior Cup HMS Victory will meet Havant Rovers at Pitt Street.
The Football League has denied that there is a "witch-hunt" associated with their investigations as to whether players at any club have received payments that were not in accordance with League regulations.
Saturday 18: The Evening News has confirmed that there will be no Christmas Day edition of the The Football Mail, but copies will be more plentiful when government restrictions on the use of newsprint are eased next month.
Mr Fred Howarth, Secretary of The Football League, has announced that the account books of an un-named First Division club have been seized and are currently at Football League headquarters awaiting examination by auditors.
There are five minutes until kick-off in Pompey's match against Preston North End at Fratton Park.
Pompey cruised to a comfortable 3-1 win over a poor Preston North End side at Fratton Park this afternoon.
Peter Harris put Pompey in front in the 10th minute when he latched on to a pass from Ike Clarke, steadied himself, and steered his shot past Preston goalkeeper Newlands.
Pompey deservedly went further ahead in the 33rd minute. Froggatt slipped the ball inside to Len Phillips, who took it forward a few yards before crashing a shot high into the net.
The game was effectively over as a contest just three minutes into the second half. Harris was tripped in the box and Bert Barlow stepped up to score from the spot.
Pompey threatened to run riot, with only Newlands standing between them a goal avalanche. His opposite number, Ernie Butler, hardly touched the ball.
Brown pulled a goal back for the visitors three minutes from time.
A combination of poor weather and it being the last Saturday before Christmas kept the Fratton Park attendance down to 26,545 - the lowest of the season.
It was comfortable for Pompey, and there was a fine win for the Reserves too. You can read all about it in tonight's Football Mail.
Match Summary: Portsmouth 3, Preston North End 1
Lawler scored Pompey Reserves' winner in the mud at Eastville.
Match Summary: Bristol Rovers Reserves 0, Portsmouth Reserves 1
Sunday 19: Yesterday's win over Preston was not the only cause for celebration for Pompey director Mr George Preston. He and his wife were celebrating their golden wedding. A champagne reception was held in the Fratton Park boardroom after the match.
Champagne was also served in the Pompey dressing room after yesterday's match when the players wished good fortune to left-back Harry Ferrier, who was married in Greenwich last week.
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