An improved second half performance could not stop Pompey from slipping to a 3-0 defeat against Aston Villa at the Wellington Sports Ground.
Michael Drennan took advantage of some sloppy play from the Blues to grab an early brace before the visitors made sure of the points with a neat Darious Darkin free-kick with 15 minutes to go.
Director of youth operations Paul Smalley said: “After conceding two early goals it was always going to be difficult to get back in the game.
“We did create chances but our performance in the first half fell well below what we know we are capable of.
“So we changed the personnel at the interval, giving two of our under-16 players another opportunity and both made a solid contribution to a much better second-half display.
“We created two great chances where we should have scored but a combination of hesitancy and poor finishing meant we didn’t get back on level terms.
“In the last 20 minutes we pushed hard and produced some good attacking play with Carl Walshe, James Jennings and Mark Francis all causing problems.
“It was encouraging for us to have Sam Magri and Matt Gledhill back from international duty and to have our under-16s players do well.”
Pompey: Gledhill; Fitzharris (Francis 46), Bennett, Magri, Tallack; Stockford (c), Tsovolos; Seeley, Harris (Webster 62), Colson (Jennings 46); Walshe
Aston Villa: Barrett; Jenkins (Darkin 61), Devine, Williams, Flanagan; Carruthirs, Johnson (c), Nelson-Addy, Cameron; Burke (Graham 75), Drennan (Taylor 61)
Subs not used: Watkins, Ward
Pompey’s under-16 side conceded an early goal and a late free-kick to go down 2-0 to Aston Villa.