Blues run riot in south Wales
Pompey Academy’s unbeaten start to the season continued as they romped to a 6-1 victory at Newport.
They took the lead after just seven minutes when Calvin Davies’ cross was sent back across goal by Adam May for Harvey Bradbury to slot home.
Brandon Joseph-Buadi then displayed great pace down the right and sent in a delivery that Jez Bedford teed-up for May to double the advantage.
Some sloppy play, however, allowed the hosts to reduce the deficit early in the second half.
But the Blues soon got back on track and Bedford restored the two-goal lead when he reacted quickest after Eddie Wakley had headed against the crossbar.
And the impressive Joseph-Buadi (above) was next to get on the scoresheet, latching onto May’s cross-field pass and taking a superb first touch before smashing a shot into the corner.
The winger then turned provider with a defence-splitting pass for Kaleem Haitham, who fired home from 25-yards.
Davies almost added a sixth with a long-range free-kick that hit the post and rolled along the goal-line.
Instead it was Bradbury who wrapped up an emphatic victory after being teed-up by May.
Academy coach Mikey Harris said: “We started incredibly brightly and managed to get ourselves in front early on.
“But when the second goal went in, I think our players all thought they could get on the scoresheet and we started to play as individuals rather than as a team.
“The game evened up more than it should and it descended into a rather scrappy affair for the rest of the half.
“At the break we spoke to them about moving the ball quicker and also stressed the importance of the next goal.
“So it was disappointing that we conceded from a free-kick after the restart. There was a mix-up between Alex Bass and his defence, but it was a well-worked routine from our opponents.
“I was interested to see how the boys would react to them scoring and I was pleased to see that it seemed to kick us back into life. From that moment on, we were in control.
“We scored some good goals and I was happy that Brandon got one of them as he was a constant thorn in Newport’s side.
“Overall it was a promising performance after we had gone off the boil in the first half and it was encouraging to see that they took on board what we said and used it to get a successful result.”
Pompey: Bass; Davies (c), Wakley (Saidy 65), Yates, Haitham; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Widdrington (Scutt 60); Joseph-Buadi, May, Bedford (McDowell 67); Bradbury
Sub not used: Woodward