Umotong and Kempson on target against Gills
Pompey Ladies stretched their winning run to nine games with a 3-0 home victory over Gillingham.
It was the Blues’ first league match in more than a month, but they did not show any signs of rustiness.
The prolific Ini Umotong continued her hot streak in front of goal by breaking the deadlock after just five minutes, heading home after the keeper could only parry Nadine Bazan’s cross.
And Sarah Kempson then doubled the advantage midway through the first half with a drive from the edge of the box.
It was Kempson who completed the scoring after the interval when her 35-yard strike flew in off the underside of the crossbar.
Blues boss Perry Northeast said: “It feels like ages since we’ve last been in league action, so it was great to get such a convincing result.
“But it was difficult on a boggy pitch that wasn’t conducive for good football. It was more of a battle really.
“Ini is in fantastic scoring form at the moment, but they need to be supplied for her and that’s what we’re doing.
“We also kept another clean sheet and we were certainly challenged – the centre-backs in particular did well to deal with whatever Gillingham could throw at us.
“It’s back to the cups now – we go to Blackburn in the FA Cup this weekend and then to Nottingham Forest in the League Cup the following Sunday.
“So we’ve got a lot of travelling to do, but we’re looking forward to both ties and trying our best to progress.”
Pompey: Blakely; Frampton, Currie, Rutherford, Bazan; Clark (Bloomfield 65), Kempson, Sievwright, Quinn (Rigby 75); Hillier (Wilson 65), Umotong