by Neil Weld
Pompey Academy romped to their biggest Premier Academy League victory of the season with a 4-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace at the Wellington Sports Ground.
The hosts opened the scoring when Jed Wallace’s diagonal ball carved open the Eagles defence and Patrick Antelmi fired home.
Ashley Harris then doubled the Blues’ advantage from the penalty spot after Wallace had been brought down in the box following good work to charge down a back-pass.
Pompey went in three goals up at the interval when a short-corner routine ended with George Colson (pictured) heading home.
And Colson completed the scoring in the second half, arriving at the near post to convert Dan Butler’s cross.
The Blues could have won by a bigger advantage, but Jack Maloney hit the post and another penalty appeal was turned down.
Stephen Lawrence completed a fine day for Pompey, though, when the keeper saved a Crystal Palace spot-kick late in the game.
Academy manager Andy Awford said: “I was very pleased with both the result and the performance – it’s great that we managed to get both right this time.
“The pitch was heavy and not ideal for elite academy football, but we adapted to the conditions better and fully deserved the victory.
“It was a good part of the lads’ education because you’re not always going to get a surface that’s conducive to free-flowing football.
“We were 3-0 up at the break and I was delighted with how professional we were in the second half. The Palace players came out a lot better, but we defended manfully and were able to score again.
“And I was delighted that our keeper made a good save to keep out their penalty because I really wanted a clean sheet.
“Now we have to find some consistency and build on this result when we host Charlton in a fortnight.”
Pompey: Lawrence; Fitzharris, Warren, Grant, Butler; Wallace (Branford 80), Awford, Colson (c); Maloney (Triggs 83), Antelmi (Higgins 61); Harris
Crystal Palace: Fitzsimons; Akuruka (Dylan 63), Inniss (c), Wynter, Williams; Sow, Kadeli (Woodley 46), de Silva (Johnson-Cole 63), Boateng; Bola, Clarke
Subs not used: Cankar, Taylor