by Johnny Moore at Westleigh Park
Pompey Academy somehow contrived to let a lead slip away and were held for the second time in 48 hours at Westleigh Park.
Paul Smalley’s side took a deserved lead when Ashley Harris (pictured) fired home on the stroke of half-time.
But Liam Crosswell scored a soft free-kick early in the second half to salvage a draw for the hosts.
Pompey applied all of the early pressure and Hawks keeper Aaron King was soon called upon to keep out Billy Tovolos’ shot from outside the box.
But King almost gifted Pompey an opener soon after, sending a clearance straight at Carl Walshe before recovering to regain possession.
Then on 25 minutes a neat move involving Harris and Patrick Antelmi ended with the latter firing narrowly wide.
Moments later Ryan Williams effortlessly glided past two Hawks players and brought a magnificent one-handed save from King.
And within seconds Williams was denied by another fine save from King, who kept out the Blues winger’s header at point-blank range.
The Hawks finally registered their first decent chance on 38 minutes when Ryan Gadd forced Matt Gledhill to make a low save.
At the other end Williams was again causing problems, beating three players like they weren’t there only to see his effort from distance kept out by King.
And just before the interval Pompey went close again when George Colson smashed a shot against the crossbar.
It looked like the sides would be heading in level at half-time but there was just enough time for HARRIS to ghost in at the far post and convert Dan Butler’s beautiful cross.
Half Time: Hawks 0 Pompey 1
The Blues continued to dominate after the break and went close to extending their advantage when Williams burst into space, but his square ball was diverted the wrong side of the post by James Jennings.
And the hosts made Pompey pay for their profligacy soon after. Crosswell’s free-kick did not look too difficult to deal with but Gledhill let the ball squirm through his body and into the net.
Pompey still looked to push forward, however, and Williams’ shot was hacked off the line after Butler did well to pick out his team-mate.
The game was open now and Curtis Robins fired against the Blues’ bar, before Higgins’ low effort was kept out by Andy Jamieson.
As the game drew to a close Pompey’s defence had to be resolute to withstand a late barrage by the Hawks.
But Lewis Stockford might have grabbed a late winner for the Blues, only to see his shot flash just past the post.
Pompey: Gledhill, Fitzharris (Wheeler 46), Tallack (Bennett 46), Grant, Butler (Stockford 76), Williams (Cook 71), Tsovolos, Colson (Higgins 46), Antelmi (Emsden 65), Harris (Seeley 46), Walshe (Jennings 46)
Hawks: King, Etherington, Froggatt, Bailey, Crosswell, Norton, Mackney, Gilbert, Lowley, Robins, Gadd
Subs: Jamieson, Redwood, Al Shandir, Flanighan, Edwards, Ledger, Knight, Jackson-Coffie, Clark, Wakley
Referee: Dean Trevallion