by Johnny Moore at Stoneham Park
A superb second-half comeback from Pompey's academy side resulted in a rout for Paul Smalley's boys at Stoneham Park.
Ryan Williams capped a fine performance with a stunning 15-minute hat-trick, while James Seeley and Patrick Antelmi bagged one apiece either side of his treble.
The score was all the more remarkable considering the Blues were outfought and outplayed in the first 45 minutes, going in at the break two goals behind to a Pathos side consisting of players released by other league academy sides.
Julian Matthews (22 minutes) and Andreas Anastasion (34 minutes) both rose above the static Pompey defence to plant home two headers as Pathos dominated.
The Blues’ only real chance came early in the first half, when Chinedu Vine (pictured) got the better of Alfred Agyeman but fired into the side netting.
After the break, Pompey quickly went about repairing the damage.
They clawed one back on 58 minutes when, after some incessant pressure, Dan Butler did well to cross from the left and substitute Seeley swept home.
Pompey then spurned a glorious chance to draw level on the hour when Jordan Fitzharris was brought down in the area by Matthews but skipper Lewis Stockford fired the spot-kick wide.
Rather than wilt following their missed opportunity, the hosts simply stepped up a gear.
Sean Bazell made a fine instinctive save from Williams who was causing more and more problems.
On 68 minutes the Pompey boy went one better after Agyeman brought him down in the box for his side’s second spot kick. This time Williams himself blasted home.
Smalley’s side had to wait until 82 minutes to force their way in front for the first time. Williams ran onto Stockford's through ball before delicately lofting over a stationary Bazell.
Two minutes later he completed his hat-trick in fine style, taking a magnificent first touch and shooting past the Pathos keeper.
The Blues completed their victory in the dying minutes when Antelmi took one step to the left before drilling home an unstoppable shot from 25 yards.
Pompey: Gledhill, Wheeler (Higgins 46), Bennett (Grant 46), Magri (Jennings 60), Butler, Williams, Stockford, Tsovolos (Fitzharris 46), Vine (Antelmi 46), Harris, Walshe (Tallack 60)