Kim nets twice as Blues down Daggers
Pompey Academy came from behind to beat Dagenham & Redbridge at Furze Lane and record a fifth successive league victory.
It was the visitors who broke the deadlock after just two minutes after keeper Alex Bass was chased down.
But the Blues hit back and levelled when Jae Heon Kim (pictured) arrived at the near post to convert a cross.
And they went in ahead at the interval when a mistake from the Daggers keeper gave Kim an empty net to shoot into.
Bradley Tarbuck then cut the ball back for Lewis Horsburgh to fire home and secure victory in Pompey’s final match of 2013.
Both sides finished the game with 10 men, however, as Harry Medway was dismissed for two bookable offences, while the visitors were penalised for an off-the-ball clash.
Academy coach Paul Hardyman said: “It was important that we bounced back from a horrendous night in the FA Youth Cup.
“We started with the same 11 because we wanted them to get that game out of their system.
“We got off to the worst possible start, but dug in and played some nice football without really penetrating Dagenham too much.
“But we went ahead and at half-time I told the lads to continue to dominate possession in the second half, but to add a bit more in the final third.
“We got another goal and were comfortable after that, seeing the game out for a win that we really needed.
“The lads were absolutely shattered afterwards – both physically and mentally. With academy matches, pre-season friendlies and development games, some of them have already played 30 times this season.
“There’s a break now until the new year and they deserve – and need – it.”
Pompey: Bass; Haunstrup, Field, Whatmough (c), Medway; Close, Granger (Nilsen 74); Chaplin (Rwakarambwe 61), Tarbuck, Kim; Horsburgh (Smart 77)