by Johnny Moore
Andy Awford’s side produced a lightning start and a frantic finale to see off plucky Aldershot at St John's College, Farlington.
Ahead after just four minutes through Aaron Kinchen in their pre-season friendly, Pompey then took their foot off the gas.
But after trailing their Hampshire neighbours 2-1 with four minutes remaining, they suddenly got another head of steam with a Bradley Pegg own-goal and a James Jennings strike snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
The Blues took the lead when a deep free-kick from Ashley Harris found Kinchen to nip in unchallenged and flick a header over Shots keeper Mike Pearce.
But they were hit just four minutes later when Pegg ran at the Pompey defence and shot past Matt Gledhill.
It was Harris and Kinchen who combined again to nearly restore the Blues’ lead, with the latter firing a volley narrowly over from a corner.
And Pompey came even closer when Jack Maloney’s cross from the right found Andy Higgins, who crashed his header against the far post with Kinchen desperately trying to hook in the rebound.
But the Blues were far from having their own way with Pegg’s through ball setting up Reez Beckson-Richards, whose effort forced a save from Gledhill.
And then the Pompey keeper was called into action again, pushing away Josh Dickens’ free-kick which was creeping into the top corner.
Aldershot poached the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Jordan Seeward’s beautiful through ball allowed George Bowen to lob the advancing Gledhill.
The Blues then made wholesale changes and Adam Webster headed over from Jack Burns’ corner before the danger that Carl Walshe’s run and cross created was cut out by Aldershot’s keeper.
But with Pompey appearing to have run out of both ideas and steam Jennings, who had only been on the pitch for 10 minutes, played a massive part in turning the game.
First his teasing cross from the left panicked Pegg into shooting past his own keeper.
Then, with less than two minutes left, Jennings stole in at the near post to clip Burns’ corner into the net and seal the win for Pompey.
Pompey: Gledhill (trialist, 46), Colson (Cook, 60), Butler (Burns 60), Branford, Warren (Fitzharris 60), Webster, Maloney (Wheeler 38), Harris (trialist 46), Kinchen (Vine 46 (Jennings 75)), Awford (Antelmi 60), Higgins (Walshe 60)