Pompey Academy 0 MK Dons Academy 2
Pompey suffered a second successive defeat with a 2-0 reverse at the hands of MK Dons at the Wellington Sports Ground.
The Blues could have taken the lead early in the second half when Ryan Williams (pictured) broke clear and rounded Daniel Glass.
The MK Dons keeper brought down Pompey’s winger but the referee decided not to show him a red card.
And the visitors quickly broke down the other end of the pitch and took the lead through Charlie Collins.
Faud Ahmed secured victory for MK Dons late on, before George Baldock was sent off for picking up a second booking.
Academy manager Andy Awford said: “We did okay in the first half and it was a pretty even game with chances for both sides.
“But we were a bit off. Maybe that was because of the hot conditions but you have to learn to deal with that. I wanted them to press a little bit more and I asked them to step things up after the break.
“Then a big decision went against us when the referee chose not to send off their keeper. I don’t like to see players sent off at youth level, but young players have to learn – even when it’s the hard way.
“Ryan would have scored, we’d have been 1-0 up and I couldn’t see us going on to lose from that position.
“Instead they go and score – thanks to some sloppy defending – and maybe our heads drop a little bit.
“I don’t want it to sound like sour grapes because we weren’t at our best, but that five-minute spell completely changed the game.
“Next up we’ve got a game at Ipswich on Thursday, so we’ve got an early chance to bounce back and hopefully produce a better result.”
Pompey: Gledhill; Tallack, Magri, Tsovolos, Grant (Antelmi 63); Stockford (c), Colson (Wheeler 72); Williams, Harris, Butler; Walshe (Garwood 63)
Subs not used: Bennett, Seeley
MK Dons: Glass; Spence, Ivey-Ward, Milton, Plowright; Gyasi, Baldock, Powell; A.Ahmed (F.Ahmed 76), Coronado (Lane 86); Collins
Subs not used: Warrender, Lobjoit, M.Ahmed