Pompey Academy returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory at Cambridge in Merit League One.
They dominated the first half and took an early lead when Stan Bridgman converted Josh Flint’s cross with a thumping header.
It was also Bridgman who doubled the advantage, this time being in the right place to turn home an Oscar Johnston delivery.
The third goal arrived just before the break, with Dan Smith (pictured) finding the target from 25 yards following some fine build-up play.
Cambridge were reduced to 10 men on the hour mark and although they reduced the deficit, the Blues comfortably held on for all three points.
Academy manager Mark Kelly said: “We played some excellent football in the first half and the opening two goals came about after really positive play.
“Then the third one arrived following a spell of one-touch passing through the middle, with plenty of clever movement.
"We were really pleased with the flowing passing and strong finishing, but there are a few things for us to work on."
“We had control of the game and came out strongly after the break, looking like we might end up with four or five.
“But Cambridge had a player sent off for a second bookable offence and we seemed to lose our edge from that point.
“Suddenly we weren’t moving the ball around quickly enough and were overcomplicating everything we did.
“They pulled a goal back from a corner and it was a little period of the game when we looked disjointed.
“But we recovered from that to finish strongly and had the ball in the net a couple more times, only for both efforts to be disallowed.
“Overall we were really pleased with the flowing passing and strong finishing, but there are a few things for us to work on, like finishing sides off when we’re on top.”
Pompey: Tombs; Dandy (Kavanagh 61), Casey, Hancott, Flint; Maloney, Whiting, Read, Johnston; Smith, Lethbridge (Bridgman 14)