PORTSMOUTH
Upton Park
5 - 2 (Loughlin 2, Robson 2 [1 pen], Jackson)
21 January 1928

Tate

Smith W.

Norrington

Smailes

Hull

Heyes

Rutherford

Robson

Loughlin

Johnson

Jackson

West Ham Reserves are now at the head of the London Combination table. They added yet another success to their list of victories when they defeated Portsmouth Reserves at the Boleyn Ground by 5-2. The Hammers were quickly on the aggressive, though Portsmouth launched the first attack. Some neat work by Rutherford on the right nearly resulted in the home side securing a lead in the second minute of the game, but Loughlin was well tackled before he had the chance to shoot. A little later Loughlin sent out to Jackson who cut in from the left and hit the side of the net with a terrific drive. Just afterwards Robson sent in a hard drive which struck the post, and Loughlin took the ball on the rebound and charged it into the net. But the Hammers did not maintain their lead for long.

Some clever passing by the Portsmouth forwards, left Weddle in possession, and he had little difficulty in beating Tate at short range. Early in the second half. Loughlin got near goal but was charged in the back by a defender. The referee awarded a penalty, and Robson took the kick, and sent in a beautiful shot which gave the goalkeeper no chance. A few minutes later Loughlin got a long range pass out to Jackson who sped down the wing and centred on the run for Robson to score with a perfect shot. But Portsmouth were not yet beaten, and their forwards tried hard to get through. A sudden attack from the left saw Mackie score from the resulting centre. Charlton the Portsmouth goalkeeper, was given a busy time, and he saved shots from all angles form the Hammers’ forwards. Eventually Rutherford hooked the ball in from the right and Loughlin headed through. Just before the end the home side attacked strenuously, and the Portsmouth goal was often in danger. Thomas, the visitors’ left back, shot through his own goal in attempting to clear.