Exeter City 1 - 1 Portsmouth: Late Ollie Watkins goal denies Portsmouth victory

Posted Wednesday, March 02, 2016 by PA

Ollie Watkins bagged a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser as Exeter City put a dent in Portsmouth's promotion hopes following a 1-1 draw at St James' Park.

It was a relatively even first half with few chances, although Pompey should have gone in front inside the first 30 seconds.

Conor Chaplin got on the end of a Marc McNulty cross, but instead of going for goal, he attempted to bring the ball down on his chest and the chance went begging.

Jayden Stockley, who played the early part of the season on loan at Pompey, twice went close with headers for Exeter, but the deadlock was broken after 31 minutes when Chaplin capitalised on a mistake by Troy Brown and side-footed the ball into the bottom corner from 18 yards.

Stockley hooked a shot wide from six yards from Brown's knockdown shortly past the hour mark for Exeter, while Kai Naismith curled narrowly high with a free-kick for Pompey.

However, in the 90th minute, Exeter got the goal they deserved when the outstanding Watkins waltzed through the Portsmouth defence, played a one-two with Clinton Morrison and slipped the ball under Ryan Fulton and into the net.