Pompey completed their pre-season preparations with a 1-1 draw against top-flight Dutch outfit FC Utrecht.

Both goals were worthy of a competitive encounter, however, with Sean Klaiber’s long-range strike cancelled out by an equally impressive effort from Anton Walkes.

Ronan Curtis produced a bright performance and was unsurprisingly named man-of-the-match by the sponsors.

Kenny Jackett dispensed with his usual 4-2-3-1 system and opted for a 4-4-2 formation, with Brandon Haunstrup on the left wing.

There were also first home appearances for Craig MacGillivray, Lee Brown, Tom Naylor and Curtis, with fellow summer signing Louis Dennis on the bench.

It was typical friendly fare in the opening stages, with little in the way of excitement at a blustery Fratton Park.

The visitors were forced into an early change when Jack Whatmough and Gyrano Kerk clattered into the advertising hoardings, with the latter replaced by Cyriel Dessers.

But neither goalkeeper was given much to do and so the quality of the opening goal caught everyone by surprise.

Dessers rolled the ball across to Klaiber and the right-back hit a stunning long-range shot that arrowed into the top corner.

Pompey improved as the half progressed and crosses from Haunstrup and Nathan Thompson were inches away from reaching their intended targets.

Curtis did meet a free-kick from Naylor and half of the Fratton End thought his header was in, when the ball in fact flew into the side netting.

Sander van de Streek then had a chance at the other end, but his angled drive was beaten away by MacGillivray.

Curtis was proving a lively presence up front for the hosts and almost capitalised on a defensive mix-up, only to see his eventual shot blocked.

It was the Blues on top as the interval approached and Brett Pitman had an effort blocked, while Curtis was flagged offside as he converted Jamal Lowe’s cross.

The former Republic of Ireland under-21 international then did well to get a shot away, forcing David Jensen to tip the ball over.

But a leveller did arrived just before the break – and it was another goal that came right out of the top drawer.

A cross from Curtis was brought down by Pitman for WALKES, who fizzed home a fierce strike from 25 yards.

Half Time: Pompey 1 FC Utrecht 1

Pompey almost flipped the match on its head just after the restart, but Matt Clarke was unable to guide a Curtis corner on target.

Curtis was involved in every attack for the hosts, although he was unable to connect with a testing Haunstrup delivery at the far post.

The hosts were also working hard out of possession, constantly pressing their opponents to force mistakes and win the ball back.

But there was a moment of concern just past the hour mark, as Lowe limped off injured to be replaced by Gareth Evans.

Both sides then had chances to take the lead during a flurry of activity midway through the second half.

Utrecht were first up when van de Streek met Urby Emanuelson’s corner and sent a header flying narrowly over the bar.

Pompey broke straight down the other end, with Curtis’ low angled drive diverted wide by the fingertips of Jensen.

A deluge of substitutes broke up the flow of the game on 73 minutes, with the hosts making six changes.

There was still time for Utrecht to find the net from a corner, although referee Andy Davies saw an infringement and the game ended all square.

Pompey (4-4-2): MacGillivray (McGee 73); Thompson (Rose 73), Whatmough, Clarke (Burgess 73), Brown; Lowe (Evans 62), Walkes, Naylor (Close 73), Haunstrup; Pitman (c) (Hawkins 73), Curtis (Chaplin 73)
Goals: Walkes 44
Subs not used: May, Dennis

FC Utrecht (4-1-2-1-2): Jensen; Klaiber, Leeuwin, Janssen (c), van der Maarel (Guwara 83); Strieder (Troupee 61); van Overeem, Emanuelson; van de Streek (Boussaid 83); Gustafson (Joosten 83), Kerk (Dessers 9 (Gortler 73))
Goals: Klaiber 15
Subs not used: de Keijzer, Paes, Memengi

Referee: Andy Davies

Attendance: 4,299 (144 away fans)