PORTSMOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB

It was as one-sided a performance as the Fratton faithful could have wished for.

Pompey cruised to a 3-0 victory over a toothless Carlisle side, with Craig Westcarr setting the tone by netting after just 80 seconds.

Miles Storey soon doubled the advantage before Danny Hollands wrapped things up after the interval.

The result moved the hosts up to ninth in the League Two table – just two points adrift of the play-off places.

And Andy Awford was delighted with his side’s clinical display against Keith Curle’s Cumbrians.

The Blues boss said: “It was a really pleasing performance and we had the clean sheet to top it off as well.

“We were totally dominant from first whistle until last and there were no problems for us at all.

“The goals we scored were fantastic – all three of them were fantastic strikes.

“I was probably a bit disappointed that we were only two up at half-time, although that’s perhaps me being greedy.

“We got the early goal and I’m delighted for Craig because he’s worked tirelessly, but not had the goals to go with that.

“But he’s managed to find the back of the net and hopefully that will give him a bit more confidence going forward.

“It was nice for Danny to get off the mark and let’s hope he can enjoy a streak like the one he had last season.

“Carlisle are quite a direct team, so it was important that our front four players got into their defenders and stopped them from getting the ball forward quickly.

“We’ve been a real force at home this season and shown promotion form. If we continue to play like that then we’ll be fine.”

Pompey now turn their attentions away from the league and to a Hampshire derby in the FA Cup.

Awford said: “We’ve got another home game next Sunday against Aldershot and we’ll go into that one with same attitude and the same mentality – and hopefully get a similar result.”