HAVING trudged, ignored by teammates, towards the end of Wembley which Wales had annexed, Peter Enckelman stopped and did ‘The Ayatollah’, the head-patting gesture beloved by Cardiff fans. He made the signal, however, only tentatively. At full-time, just like during the game, Enckelman looked uncertain when using his hands. The goalkeeper wanted to show solidarity with his club’s supporters but could not be sure whether they would reciprocate. Katherine Jenkins dropped her microphone during Abide With Me, but the man who spilled the FA Cup was a far worse thing to be.

It was Enckelman, as much as John Utaka, who deserved to be credited with the assist for Nwankwo Kanu’s goal. The cross Utaka played was dangerous, swept at speed towards the six-yard line, that corridor of uncertainty between goalkeeper and centre-backs dreaded by any defence.

But it was Enckelman who pushed the ball into Kanu’s path. Out jutted one of those pipe-cleaner legs and Portsmouth were on their way.

Enckelman wore an expression of Finnish mortification that could not have been greater had he been the fellow in the Helsinki sauna who forgets to shut the door. Roger Johnson could barely look at him. The goalkeeper looked just as alone when he stood with the coaches, separate from the other Cardiff players, as Pompey went up for their medals.

It did not matter that Enckelman came out early from Dave Jones’ half-time team talk to practise his handling. The damage had been done and Portsmouth supporters were quick with their “ooohs” and “aaahs” whenever the ball subsequently went in his vicinity. A Dave Nugent shot, struck well but from an angle that would not usually trouble a goalkeeper, caused one flap. A simple back-pass from Glenn Loovens provoked a sliced kick which spun out of play. The 18-yard box can be a chilled, lonely tundra for a calamitous keeper, as Enckelman’s Portsmouth counterpart knows. David James commiserated with the Finn at the final whistle. It was a nice thing to do, but no real balm for the pain.

Enckelman has been here before. The definitive moment in his five years at Aston Villa came in a Birmingham derby when, brought in from the reserves, he fluffed his opportunity by taking his eye off an Olof Mellberg throw-in and let the ball roll into the net. Birmingham won and Enckelman suffered the indignity of having a pitch-invader run up and make a taunting gesture in his face. A move to Blackburn brought little rehabilitation and he made just two league appearances in his four-and-a-half years at Ewood Park. He came to Cardiff in January on loan and became the fourth goalkeeper used by Jones this season when replacing an injured Michael Oakes.

Last week, Enckelman was offered a three-year contract and it is imagined he will sign it, providing he holds onto the pen. In many ways, he represents where Cardiff – and virtually all Championship sides – stand in relation to the Premier League. Peter Whittingham, like the Finn, is another deemed not quite good enough by Villa while Stephen McPhail, their captain, whose touch is lovely, did not establish himself when in the top flight with Leeds United. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Trevor Sinclair are players winding down in easier climes after finding life a little too hot in the Premier League. Aaron Ramsey and Joe Ledley look good enough to play there. For the others, Championship status looked about right.

Cardiff go home with no regrets. It may be many years before the FA Cup is so open again, and another side outside the top tier is in the final. Whether one of the ‘have-nots’ will ever win the trophy again is debatable. The thought, at full-time, was as sobering as the image of Peter Enckelman.