Former Millwall Premier League Kicks Participant Romain Esse scored the winner as Millwall beat Portsmouth 1-0 in the Carabao Cup First Round at Fratton Park.
Esse - who has made 37 appearances and scored three professional goals - attended Millwall’s free Friday night Premier League Kicks session at The Lions Centre.
Esse is also Millwall Community Trust’s Women’s and Girls’ Football/Sport Ambassador.
Millwall took the lead in the thirteenth minute. After the ball was worked into the penalty area, Esse showed class and composure to keep the ball at his feet and guide a strike into the bottom corner.
Connor Ogilvie and Terry Devlin then went close as the home side sought the equaliser with the hour-mark approaching, but the next big opportunity fell at the feet of Honeyman on 59 minutes after a combination of Esse and Emakhu set up the midfielder; his goal-bound effort stopped by the flailing Pompey bodies, however.
Esse curled an attempt over the top before a raft of substitutions saw Bradshaw, Saville and Ryan Leonard come into the game; Watmore then followed, before two Portsmouth substitutes combined to set up a chance, but Callum Lang headed Paddy Lane's header wide.
Swanson's vital interception prevente Watmore from putting Esse in the clear with five minutes to play - and when Towler's back post header in the final seconds of stoppage-time went wide, it was to be The Lions' night as they advanced to Round Two.
Through the Premier League Kicks programme, Millwall Community Trust provides free weekly football sessions, youth work, mentoring opportunities workshops, social action and volunteering projects with the end goal of creating opportunities for young people to develop skills and improve their confidence.
The delivery takes place throughout the London Boroughs of Lewisham and Southwark and is aimed at supporting young people to progress into positive pathways such as grassroots football teams whilst also being involved in volunteering in social action projects and varying routes into education, training opportunities, and employment.
Contact [email protected] for more information
To find out more about Millwall’s Premier League Kicks sessions, see the flyer below:
