February 20-29: Pompey Go Third On Points
Wednesday 22: Portsmouth Reserves 0, Crystal Palace Reserves 3
Friday 24: Pompey have a host of injury concerns ahead of their crucial First Division match against struggling Birmingham City at Fratton Park tomorrow. Reg Flewin, Duggie Reid, Ike Clarke and Jack Froggatt will all be missing from the Blues line-up.
Bill Thompson will deputise for Reg Flewin at centre half, Reg Pickett will continue at inside right, and Ron Bennett will play at outside left. Pompey are still undecided on who will lead the forward line.
The probable Pompey team to face Birmingham City tomorrow is: Butler, Rookes, Ferrier, Scoular, Thompson, Dickinson, Harris, Pickett, A N Other, Phillips, Bennett.
Pompey Reserves, who are without a competitive fixture tomorrow, will travel to Trowbridge for a friendly.
Saturday 25: Injury-ravaged Pompey were unsuccessful in their attempts to sign a new centre forward last night.
18-year-old Peter Higham, a serving Royal Marine who has had just two outings with the reserves, will lead the attack against Birmingham City today.
The Pompey team for this afternoon's match against Birmingham City at Fratton Park has therefore been finalised as follows: Butler, Rookes, Ferrier, Scoular, Flewin, Dickinson, Harris, Pickett, Higham, Phillips, Bennett.
Pompey Reserves, for their friendly match at Trowbridge this afternoon, will be represented by: Leather, Stephen, Mansell, Duggins, Cairney, Andrews, Ekner, Delapenha, Wood, Elder, Parker.
Pompey's Hampshire League side to face Cowes at Bridgemary this afternoon will be: Aslett, Turner, Butler, Sanderson, Field, Wilson, Newman, Pearson Ames, Gordon, Hunt.
Pompey's chances of retaining the League title will look very slim indeed if they fail to beat Birmingham City at Fratton Park this afternoon. City have only 16 points from 29 League matches, and have picked up only three points away from home.
The final whistle has sounded at Fratton Park and Pompey have picked up two priceless points as they continue their quest to retain the League Championship.
Result: Pompey 2 - 0 Birmingham City Scorers: Peter Harris (2) Attendance: 28,429
Two second-half goals from Peter Harris provided patched-up Pompey with both points in their crucial match against seemingly-doomed Birmingham City at Fratton Park this afternoon. The win keeps alive Pompey's dream of retaining the League title.
In a goalless first-half Reg Pickett fired a low shot against a post, and goalkeeper Gil Merrick came to Birmingham’s rescue, twice saving from Pompey's young debutant Peter Higham.
Peter Harris put Pompey ahead shortly after the interval, and then saw two more of his efforts saved by Merrick.
Birmingham should have drawn level but Dailey’s shot somehow hit the top of the Fratton End stand when it seemed easier to score.
With a minute remaining Harris secured the points for Pompey with a lob that Merrick should have saved.
Manchester United lead the First Division tonight with 40 points, ahead of Liverpool on goal average. Sunderland have 37 points, then come Pompey, Blackpool, Arsenal and Wolves who all have 36 points.
"MERRICK STOPS AVALANCHE
Harris scores Pompey's Two: Confident Display by Higham In First Match"
Match Summary: Portsmouth 2, Birmingham City 0
Sunday 26: The report on Pompey's win against Birmingham City - from last night's Football Mail.
Monday 27: Millwall Reserves 2, Portsmouth Reserves 1
Tuesday 28: With the aid of a pneumatic drill, Portsmouth's Lord Mayor, Alderman John Privett (right), who is also Pompey's chairman, finally starts the rebuilding work in bomb-damaged Palmerston Road. Also drilling is the Town Clerk, Mr V Blanchard.
Wednesday 29: Pompey right-back Bill Hindmarsh (back row, second from left) is a regular performer for Fratton British Legion billiards team. His former Blues team mate, Bert Barlow (back row, far left), now with Leicester City, also plays for the Legionnaires.
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