Stunning start as Portsmouth defender conjures up goal-of-the-season contender in second career game
The talented 18-year-old featured four times for John Mousinho’s team in pre-season
A promising Pompey defender announced his loan arrival in style with a goal-of-the-season contender in just his second senior outing.
Nat Chioma last week linked up with Poole Town for a month, with the Blues keen for the well-regarded left-back to get regular first-team football to boost his development.
He started Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Basingstoke in the FA Trophy - yet it was on Tuesday night when he grabbed the headlines with a stunning strike.
The Pompey first-year professional accepted a 78th-minute pass inside from Bradley Tarbuck, before surging upfield and unleashing a 25-yard left-footed effort to hand The Dolphins a 2-1 lead at Chertsey Town.
Having trailed 1-0 at the break, Joe Lea and Pat Suraci’s side recovered to register a 3-1 victory, lifting them into fifth in Southern League Premier South.
And for Chioma, who featured for John Mousinho’s first-team four times in pre-season, it has been an eye-catching start to life away from Fratton Park.
‘I’m buzzing to get my first goal in such a way’
The 18-year-old told Poole’s official website: ‘I caught it well and luckily enough it went in as well as it did, so I’m buzzing to get my first goal in such a way.
‘To be fair, it did feel like it was going in when I caught it, the way it was travelling it did look pretty promising, but to end up the way it did I’m delighted. As long as the ball went in, that’s all that matters.
‘It was a really good, improved second half from the boys. I thought we dug deep, they are a tough side who gave us a good game, but in the second half there was a spark in us, a reaction, to go and bring the game back - and we secured the three points against a really good team.
‘I’m still adapting, it’s still taking me time to get used to things, the physicality and the intensity of the game, but all’s going well, I’m coping. I’m just doing the little things and integrating my way into the game.
‘So I’m happy that things are going well so far and I’m looking to continue it.’
Four friendly outings for Portsmouth
Chioma, who has featured in one Academy match this season, turned out for Pompey in summer friendlies against Woking, Aldershot, Bristol Rovers and the behind-closed-doors match with SC Kuwait.
He also played at left-back against Farnborough in July, when the youngsters stepped in after Mousinho’s first-team were no longer able to fulfil the fixture.
Fellow Academy graduate Michael Ani is currently on loan at the Hawks and has started their last two matches.
He was crowned man of the match in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Hanwell Town, after making his debut in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Taunton Town in the FA Trophy.
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