There was a big banana skin waiting for Pompey Academy to slip up on in the FA Youth Cup.
But they dealt with the threat of Cray Wanderers in a professional manner to reach the third round on an artificial surface at Hayes Lane.
Goals from Bradley Lethbridge, Leon Maloney, James Whiting and Oscar Johnston secured a comfortable 4-0 victory.
And Mark Kelly was delighted with the display from his young side to set-up a mouth-watering clash with Liverpool in the next stage.
Pompey’s academy manager said: “It was a professional job and the boys got the result that their performance truly deserved.
“We got goals from lots of different areas of the pitch and we probably should have had another three or four.
"We were the favourites and that adds pressure, but you have to deal with that and I thought we did it very well."
“It was pleasing to see that we were on the front foot for most of the night and we put them under a lot of pressure.
“We train on 3G pitches at the university at times, so we’re used to it and that didn’t cause us any problems.
“You’re not going to get 90 minutes of it going entirely your way, though, and fair play to Cray because they stuck in there.
“There were a few chances for them at 3-0 and we had to clear a couple from the line, but we were in control at that stage and then nicked a fourth.
“We were the favourites and that adds pressure, but you have to deal with that and I thought we did it very well.
Pompey will make the long trip north to St Helens before Christmas to face Merseyside giants Liverpool.
Kelly said: “The boys are really looking forward to it and I’m sure they’ll be as keen as mustard to go and perform there.”