Jamal Lowe: The greatest goal of my life, I'll never forget that Portsmouth Wembley moment - sort of!

‘It didn’t occur to me it was today, but I’ve just seen Oli Hawkins’ penalty on Instagram. I didn’t realise,’ laughed the 25-year-old.

‘I thought about it a couple of weeks ago, I knew it was coming up soon because it happened on Mother’s Day last year – then, this morning, I found out!’

Lowe’s sublime lob over Sunderland keeper Jon McLaughlin was worthy of winning any Wembley fixture, particularly in extra-time. Except it didn’t.

Ultimately, a penalty shoot-out which finished 5-4 in Pompey’s favour secured the Checkatrade Trophy a year ago today, with the right-winger among those who netted from the spot.

Yet it was that goal registered on 114 minutes which prompted one of the great Fratton faithful reactions, a deafening roar to invoke goosebumps which remains upon every video replay viewing since.

A magical goal, a special moment, the nonchalant finish put Kenny Jackett’s men 2-1 up with six minutes remaining of extra-time.

Then Aiden McGeady levelled one minute from time – but, thankfully for Pompey, it delayed the inevitable.

Lowe told The News: ‘When I scored, that has to be the loudest thing I have ever been part of, even going to the O2 to watch various things. That moment was definitely the loudest.

‘As you can see from my celebration, I didn’t know what to do with myself. Usually I have a celebration planned, but emotion took over and it was total chaos.

‘That’s the best goal I’ve ever scored. There are others which might have been better, but, on that occasion, at that time of the game, at Wembley, I think that has to top the rest.

‘I had a chance just before that and fluffed it. Ever since we secured our place in the final, I had been thinking about scoring at Wembley, then I missed one which was actually easier than that which I netted with.

‘I remember thinking “I could have won the game for us and now I’ve messed it up”.

‘Then I had another opportunity. When that came, I thought “What should I do?”. The goalkeeper was off his line, I could shoot, I could go around him, thankfully my decision worked out.

‘I thought it was the winner, everyone did at the time, there wasn't very long left, we had been on top for a while. I really thought it was the winner, but still, happy days!

‘To be fair, the way it ended was probably better. Admittedly, it would have been nice to have got the decisive goal, but it was great drama how it panned out.

‘The shoot-out going to the fifth penalty, Craig (MacGillivray) making the save, you have to say that topped the occasion – both for the fans and the match as a spectacle.

‘Apart from my Football League debut for Barnet as an 18-year-old, that was my top match. It was a great game.’

Lowe left Pompey for Championship Wigan in July, ending an impressive Fratton Park stay consisting of 29 goals in 119 appearances.

His two-and-a-half year presence also included the goal-scoring double at Meadow Lane which earned promotion from League Two in April 2017, while he also netted off the bench in the title clincher against Cheltenham.

Yet it’s his Wembley achievement which stands out.

Lowe added: ‘My Wembley medal’s in my bedroom and I’m waiting to get it framed.

‘I had finally found somebody to do it, along with loads of my shirts, but the framers are now closed because of the coronavirus, so I’ll have to wait.

‘All the players had to give their Wembley shirts back to the club after the game because they had to be sold for merchandising, which caused a bit of chaos afterwards.

‘Luckily, I wear a shirt for each half in matches, so was able to hand over mine from the first half – and keep the one I scored in.

‘Some of the boys don’t change their shirts, so that’s where the drama starts.

‘Still, I love remembering that day!’

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