Quinn goal not enough for Pompey
Pompey Ladies were beaten 2-1 at West Ham, despite a stirring second half fightback.
The hosts broke the deadlock on 17 minutes when Natalie Crinean took advantage of Lauren Murphy’s poor headed back-pass and flicked the ball past Sadie Blakely.
And Vicky King doubled their advantage with an audacious lob after a blocked shot had fallen kindly at her feet.
But the Blues looked much brighter after the break and Hammers keeper Toni-Anne Wayne did well to gather Charley Wilson’s cut-back before making a fine save to deny Lucy Quinn.
Quinn (pictured) did reduce the deficit on 74 minutes, however, scoring directly from a corner.
Pompey pushed forward in search of an equaliser and had a goal controversially ruled out for offside before Leeta Rutherford struck the crossbar late on.
Joint Blues boss Katie Poore said: “We were a lot better in the second half than the first and the girls were really focused after the break.
“It was a tricky match. West Ham were playing at home for the first time this season and obviously wanted to impress.
“Overall, I thought we were the better side and weren’t really put under any pressure in the second half.
“West Ham spent most of the time camped inside their 18-yard box and I thought we deserved at least a point for our efforts.
“But we’ve got another game against Cardiff next week and we’ll work hard on a few things in training as we try to bounce back.”
Pompey: Blakely; Simmonds, Taylor (Frampton), Murphy, Bazan; Quinn, McGee, Rutherford, Hunt (Bloomfield); Wilson, Hillier (c)
Subs not used: Lee, Ingram