Blues begin pre-season with a bang
Pompey got their pre-season campaign off to a winning start with a comfortable victory over neighbours Havant & Waterlooville.
Triallist Ryan Bird scored twice before the break, while Ryan Woodford sent the ball past his own keeper in the second half.
Late goals from debutants Romain Padovani and Andy Barcham then gave the scoreline an added gloss.
Triallist Ryan Bird scored twice before the break, while Ryan Woodford sent the ball past his own keeper in the second half.
Late goals from debutants Romain Padovani and Andy Barcham then gave the scoreline an added gloss.
Before the match, Blues chairman Iain McInnes went onto the pitch to thank the Hawks for their continued support – especially through recent dark days.
Guy Whittingham handed debuts to all of Pompey’s new signings and changed the entire team at the start of the second half.
The visitors got off to a flying start and took a fortuitous lead when Woodford’s clearance ricocheted off BIRD and flew into the net.
The triallist almost had a second moments later when Jed Wallace’s cross struck him on the thigh, but the ball struck the post and looped into the arms of Hawks keeper Scott Bevan.
It was mostly typical friendly fare on offer, though, with the game largely played at a languid pace in the evening sunshine.
Serge Makofo livened things up on 32 minutes but, after doing well to get into a shooting position, clipped his shot wide.
Phil Smith then made a fine fingertip save to tip Steve Kabba’s curling goalbound effort to safety.
But it was Pompey who struck again just before the break when BIRD diverted Jed Wallace’s scuffed shot into the net with a neat flick.
Half Time: Hawks 0 Pompey 2
The Hawks survived a bright spell from Pompey’s fresh faces at the start of the second half.
But the non-league side threatened themselves on 64 minutes, although John Sullivan always knew that Scott Jones’ drive was sailing wide.
Pompey strengthened their advantage soon after, however, when Tom Craddock’s cross was inadvertently headed into his own net by Hawks skipper WOODFORD.
It looked like that would it, but PADOVANI headed home Dan Butler's cross from close on 86 minutes.
And seconds later BARCHAM ran from deep and threaded the ball through substitute keeper Charlie Searle's legs to score Pompey's fifth of the evening.
It looked like that would it, but PADOVANI headed home Dan Butler's cross from close on 86 minutes.
And seconds later BARCHAM ran from deep and threaded the ball through substitute keeper Charlie Searle's legs to score Pompey's fifth of the evening.
Hawks: Bevan (Searle 80); Newton (Strugnell 46), Woodford (c), Monteiro (McDonald 46), Blanchett; Makofo (Wedlake 71), Hutchinson (Adebowale 46), Ryan, Ramsey; Ciardini (Jones 46), Kabba (Owusu 46)
Pompey: Smith (Sullivan 46); Moutaouakil (East 46), N’Gala (Devera 46), Bradley (Webster 46), Triggs (Butler 46); Holmes (Cooper 46), Ertl (c) (Padovani 46), Wallace (Mendy 46), Harris (Barcham 46); Connolly (Craddock 46), Bird (Agyemang 46)
Goals: Bird 1, 41, Woodford (og) 68, Padovani 86, Barcham 87
Subs not used: Warren, Awford, Branford, Maloney
Referee: Dean Treleaven