Kempson grabs winner in Wales
Pompey Ladies remained at the Premier League Southern Division summit with a 1-0 victory at fellow title hopefuls Cardiff.
The result ensured they remain one point clear of second-placed Brighton, with just three matches remaining.
It was the Welsh outfit who started brightest, but the visitors soon found their feet, with Ini Umotong and Sarah Kempson both going close.
And it was Kempson who broke the deadlock on 28 minutes, sending Bluebirds keeper Laura O’Sullivan the wrong way from the spot after Lucy Quinn had been fouled in the box.
The Blues almost grabbed an immediate second, only for Umotong to be denied by a superb O’Sullivan save.
And Umotong had a shot cleared off the line after the interval, as Pompey tried to make sure of victory.
But they were indebted to keeper Michelle Beazley, who made a string of fine saves to late on to secure all three points.
Blues boss Perry Northeast said: “The girls produced a fantastic, resilient display and performed above and beyond what is normally expected of them.
“We were without our skipper Charley Wilson and goalkeeper Sadie Blakely, but refused to let that faze us.
“Cardiff are a side we’ve never beaten before, so it was particularly satisfying to end that hoodoo.
“When I took over there was a list of things that I wanted us to achieve and that was certainly on the list.
“There was a minibus of fans who made the long journey to support us and we were extremely appreciative of that.
“Of course we’ve got an eye on the league table, but at the moment we’re just taking it one game at a time and now turn our focus to facing Gillingham on Sunday.”
Pompey: Beazley; Frampton (Taylor 76), Clark, Rutherford, Bazan; Kempson, Bloomfield, Sievwright, Quinn; Hillier, Umotong (Dark 83)
Sub not used: Currie