There were 5,000 spectators present, and a good game was confidently expected, as te Hammers created a distinctly favourable impression when the two sides met last season.
Pompey played wit the wind at their back, and were the first to attack. Macauley headedthe ball through from a centre by Steve Smith, but the point was negatived as it was palpably offside. Macauley was seriously injured after the game had been in progress ten minutes, and was carried off the field. West Ham played well, and had a full share of the play but their forwards were unable to break through the defence. Portsmouth scored their first goal after five and twenty minutes play, through W. Smith. West ham tried had to equalise, but to no purpose, and five minutes before half-time marshall centred to Bedingfied, who scored number two for Pompey.
The Hammers thus started the second half with an adverse score of two goals against them. Play was no sooner re-commenced than Bedingfield scored again for the home side, thus placing them three up. This proved to be their last goal, and they slackened down a little after scoring it. The Hammers continued to struggle on, and showed marked improvement in their play. Fifteen minutes from the finish their efforts were rewarded by a goal through Grassam. Just before the whistle blew, he supplemented this with another, and the result was therefore only one goal in faivour of teh naval men.