by Neil Weld
Pompey Academy picked up a point at Ipswich in their first match since the Christmas break.
The visitors dominated the first half and took a deserved lead when Sam Magri (pictured) converted Ashley Harris’ cross.
But the Tractor Boys responded after the break and two quick goals from Lewis Acott and Jack Marriott turned the match on its head.
The Blues rescued a point, however, when new signing Dan Thompson – who will play certain academy games during his loan spell at Havant & Waterlooville – grabbed an equaliser.
Academy coach Paul Hardyman said: “The wind was with us in the first half and Ashley Harris, Liam Triggs and Dan Thompson all had good chances.
“We couldn’t capitalise on those, but Sam scored to make sure we went in ahead at half-time.
“Unfortunately the lads didn’t respond the way we would have liked at the start of the second half and we soon found ourselves behind.
“But we showed good character to get level again and Ashley even had a good chance to win us the match.
“We probably had enough of the play to have claimed all three points and we conceded a couple of sloppy goals, so I’ve got mixed emotions about the game.”
Ipswich: O'Donnell (O'Neil 46); Jones, Maduako, Acott (Meikle 70), October; Bennett (c), Winter, Thorsteinsson, Leddy; Lawrence, Marriott (Simmons 62)
Subs not used: Tiofack, Scotcher
Pompey: Gledhill; Wheeler, Magri (c), Warren, Triggs (Butler 62); Wallace, Branford (Awford 69), Harris; Jennings (Vine 74), Maloney; Thompson