Sadler frustrated by missed chance at QPR

Courtney Trodd was beaten as Pompey suffered a deflating day at QPR. Picture: Paul Jacobs (151619-3)

The Londoners recorded their first point – and netted only their second goal – in eight league outings in the 1-1 draw at Honeycroft on Sunday.

Pompey laid seige to the QPR goal but, despite all the clear-cut chances they created, they only had another wonder-strike from Sarah Kempson to show for their efforts.

Sadler was left speechless when a lapse in concentration saw the hosts equalise.

But with time to reflect, the assistant manager reckons the performance was better than at first sight.

Sadler said: ‘We were deflated and frustrated on the journey home.

‘But having had the chance to sleep on it, we have to say it was a good performance.

‘That performance would have beaten a lot of teams in our league.

‘On another day we would have come away having beaten them by four or five goals. Maybe more.

‘But we just couldn’t get the ball in the net.

‘It was one of those days where we created chance after chance but couldn’t take them.’

Sadler and Pompey Ladies’ manager Craig Taylor were happy enough when the game was all square at the half-time interval. The Blues have conceded far too many early goals, so it was a boost to keep a clean sheet during the opening 45 minutes.

And while they had failed to take a host of chances, Sadler expected the floodgates to open when Kempson fired home her eighth goal of the season from 25 yards.

Katie James almost doubled the lead immediately – but was denied by QPR keeper Callie Neat.

And then came the sucker-punch as a mix-up at the back handed Jenny Critchley an equaliser.

Sadler added: ‘We dealt with the long ball but then a mistake allowed them to split our two centre-backs and beat Courtney (Trodd).

‘I thought someone was having a laugh!

‘Just a single lapse in concentration and suddenly we were back to square one.

‘We battered away right to the end of the game but just couldn’t find a way through for the winner.

‘We have told the players, unless we eradicate the errors and lapses in concentration, better teams than QPR will punish us.’

James went close to winner before making way for debutante Rebecca Bell.

Bell almost saved the day, too, but her lob sailed just over the bar.

Pompey travel to Charlton in the Premier League Cup on Sunday.