Blues run riot at Nyewood Lane
Pompey continued on the goal trail by hitting six goals past non-league Bognor at Nyewood Lane.
Ryan Taylor, Miles Storey, Danny Hollands, Bradley Tarbuck, Andy Barcham and Jed Wallace all found the target in a dominant display against the Ryman Premier outfit.
Andy Awford once again used the fixture to build his squad’s fitness, although Michael Poke (ankle), Danny East (groin) and Jack Whatmough (leg) were all carrying knocks.
It was a quiet start played in muggy conditions, although Pompey were comfortably controlling possession.
There were not too many clear-cut chances in the opening stages, although Johnny Ertl did screw a shot wide from a Ricky Holmes corner.
Taylor then glanced a header wide after Storey had collected Danny Hollands’ pass and sent in a dangerous cross.
But TAYLOR did break the deadlock on 24 minutes, swivelling sharply and firing past Rocks keeper Chris Winterton.
And the lead was doubled seconds later when STOREY blasted a fine finish into the net from wide on the right.
Bognor reduced the deficit soon after, as Alex Parsons rounded Paul Jones and slid home.
But that was as good as it got for the hosts, who struggled to cope with the Blues’ attacking flair throughout.
They only conceded one more before the break, though, as Holmes’ free-kick was blocked and HOLLANDS followed up to lash in the loose ball.
Half Time: Bognor 1 Pompey 3
Awford made a host of changes at the interval, but that failed to dampen Pompey’s goalscoring prowess.
TARBUCK and Patrick Agyemang both wasted good opportunities before the former raced onto Jack Maloney’s through ball and added the hosts’ fourth.
Three more substitutions followed – including the introduction of teenage academy goalkeeper Alex Bass.
Pompey continued to dominate and Ryan Bird saw his effort diverted inches past the post on 63 minutes.
But BARCHAM did grab the fifth, sliding into convert at the far post following good work from Wallace down the right.
And it was WALLACE who completed the scoring late on when he latched on to Agyemang’s pass, cut inside and found the net to complete an encouraging afternoon for the Blues.
Bognor (4-4-2): Winterton; Hinshelwood (c), Robson, Medway (Sackman 58), Crane; Whyte (Pearce 50), Tuck (Strong 73), Oatway, Johnson; Wheeler, Parsons (Horsburgh 35 (van Driel 66))
Goals: Parsons 29
Pompey (4-2-3-1): Jones (Bass 59); Close (Wynter 46), Hollands (Devera 46), Chorley (c) (Wynter 46), Butler (Shorey 46); Ertl (Awford 46), Dunne (Atangana 46); Storey (Maloney 35 (Wallace 59)), Westcarr (Tarbuck 35 (Barcham 59)), Holmes (Bird 46); Taylor (Agyemang 46)
Goals: Taylor 24, Storey 26, Hollands 45, Tarbuck 56, Barcham 68, Wallace 85