Portsmouth Season Review 2013/2014: April

Last updated : 10 June 2014 By Jim Bonner

Andy Awford's appointment as caretaker manager of Pompey had galvanised the team to a much needed win at Newport following the sacking of Richie Barker but there was still much work to do to ensure Football League survival.

The fans packed the Park for the visit of Hartlepool as a minutes' applause was held for young fan Jack Robinson who sadly died aged four from a brain tumour.

Adam Webster was recalled the squad and put straight into the team for the match against the Monkey Hangers. He made an instant impact by scoring in the first minute to send an already loud Fratton Park crowd into raptures.

There might have been a second goal soon after as Wes Fogden was tripped in the box but Ryan Taylor's poor spot kick was saved and the rebound was blasted over the Milton End. That didn't matter as Pompey did enough to see out the rest of the game comfortably and Andy Awford's fist-pump celebration told everyone just what the result meant to everyone connected with the football club.

Highlights: Portsmouth 1 Hartlepool United 0

Jack Whatmough's impressive performances saw him rewarded with a new contract as Pompey travelled to Dagenham the following weekend.

The new belief in the team was for all to see as early goals from Danny Hollands and Michael Drennan gave the visitors a well deserved 2-0 lead.

Abu Agogo pulled one back before the break but Drennan's second half thunderbolt just before the hour restored the two goal cushion. Awford's men created more chances and the result was sealed when Jed Wallace scored to complete the rout and give Pompey a massive boost in their battle against the drop.

Highlights: Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Portsmouth 4

Next up was the visit of relegation threatened Bristol Rovers with Pompey fans knowing that a win would all but secure their League Two status for next season.

Webster got things to the perfect start as his finish on the edge of the box found the bottom corner of the net but Rovers equalised thanks to a massively deflected strike from Matt Harrold.

The visitors pressed Pompey but were caught with a suckerpunch as the home side won a corner and Ricky Holmes played the ball back to Hollands on the edge of the box and his fierce strike was turned in by Taylor to give the home side the lead again.

Pompey fans were still celebrating by the time Rovers had equalised for the second time as Harrold headed in a cross with the home defence caught out.

The game was eventually won in the second half with Wes Fogden bundling the ball over the line from close range thanks to some poor Pirates defending.

Pompey saw the rest of the game out and the fans started singing "we are staying up" with League Two survival virtually secured thanks to a fourth straight win.

Highlights: Portsmouth 3 Bristol Rovers 2

Football League survival was confirmed on Easter Monday before Pompey kicked off at Northampton as Bristol Rovers lost to Torquay meaning that neither side could catch Andy Awford's men.

Not that it mattered as Pompey recorded a fifth straight win despite the manager making eight changes to his team. Danny East ghosted into the box to hook the ball past Matt Duke after just six minutes as the Cobblers missed a whole host of chances to equalise and earn a draw.

Highlights: Northampton Town 0 Portsmouth 1

The final match of the month saw Portsmouth supporters travel to Gigg Lane whether it be by car, coach or bicycle and the fans would be treated to one of the most ridiculous games of football they would have ever seen.

Hallam Hope gave the Shakers a two goal lead with his first goal being a looping header over Trevor Carson and the second a strike from distance with no Blues player near him.

After Andy Procter headed in a third goal just as the second half had started the travelling fans must have been wondering what had happened to the team that had won their five previous games.

Hollands pulled one back as Bury showed that they were just as capable as Pompey when it came to sloppy defending and then some real hope was restored when Taylor turned in Agyemang's cross for another goal back with just eight minutes to go.

But once Hope had beaten Bondz N'Gala to a cross to complete his hat-trick and make the score 4-2 it seemed like a defeat was on the cards even though Sonny Bradley tapped in a third goal for Pompey that was set up by another long throw with just stoppage time to play.

However, the spirit of Andy Awford's men would show that his team would never be denied a result and Wes Fogden was on hand to poke home an equaliser to earn an incredible 4-4 draw with Pompey fans going ballistic in the away end.

Highlights: Bury 4 Portsmouth 4

It was a fitting end to a month which saw Pompey go from the brink of relegation to the comfort of mid-table. With just one more match to play there was still a top ten place in League Two to play for but for now the fans could reflect on the outstanding job one of their cult heroes had done to keep Portsmouth afloat.