Memorial Stadium defeat for young Blues
Pompey were beaten 3-0 by Bristol Rovers in their final Youth Alliance South-West fixture at the Memorial Stadium.
But the Blues rested all of their second year players, having already guaranteed the top five finish needed to join the best south-east sides in Merit League One.
Connor Jones gave the hosts an early lead when he embarked on a driving run from midfield and found the bottom corner.
George Corp doubled the advantage following a scramble in the box, while Mitch Palmer added a third after the interval.
Pompey had a chance to reduce the deficit when Kaleem Haitham’s cross was handled, but Adam May saw his spot-kick saved by Camaron Clarke.
Academy coach Mikey Harris said: “It was always going to be tough with no second years and a side made up of under-17 and under-16 players.
“We wanted to give them an opportunity to gain an understanding of youth team football and all the challenges that brings.
“They worked hard and acquitted themselves well, so I was pleased with the performance despite the result.
“We created plenty of chances, but just lacked a cutting edge and made the wrong decisions on the edge of the box.
“There were still some great individual performances and some of them got the experience of playing in a football stadium for the first time.”
Pompey: Hall; Diaz (Yates 65), Saidy (Wakley 52), May, Davies; K.Joseph-Buadi (Bradbury 46), Widdrington, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Haitham; B.Joseph-Buadi, Sayers