by Dave Kemp
Pompey Academy continued their fine pre-season form with a 4-1 victory over Hampton & Richmond’s youth side in Eastleigh.
The Blues looked to attack straight from kick-off and took the lead on 20 minutes when Chinedu VINE poked home after his first attempt had crashed back off the crossbar.
Ashley HARRIS doubled their advantage soon after, turning his marker inside out and lashing a shot into the corner of the net.
With the first half drawing to a close, VINE grabbed his second and Pompey’s third with a diving header.
The visitors pulled a goal back early in the second half when Gustavo Arthur held off several challenges and fired home from an acute angle.
Paul Smalley then made a host of substitutions and one of them scored the fourth. Lewis STOCKFORD (pictured) fought his way into space and powered home a shot.
Hampton & Richmond were denied a late consolation when the Blues’ substitute keeper Stuart Moore made a fine save to keep out Matt Warren’s strike.
Pompey: Fry, Fitzharris, Grant, Tallack, Butler, Jennings, Tsovolos, Harris, Vine, Antelmi, Walshe
Subs: Moore, Stockford, Bennett, Williams, Oxenborough, Hargreaves, Higgings, Seeley
Hampton & Richmond: White, Lumumba, Acheampong, Mellon, Bishton, Craig, Callaghan, Warren, Critchilow, Arthur, Williams
Subs: Roberts, Kim, Jacquart