Pompey Women conceded a late goal to lose 2-1 at Loughborough in their first National League South game for a month.
Rachel Panting had cancelled out Becky Knight’s opener, only for an own-goal to secure the points for the Foxes.
Jay Sadler made two changes from the side that secured an emphatic 11-0 friendly victory over Brentford the previous week.
Rebekah Tonks came in for the injured Jazz Younger, while Daisy McLachlan took EJ May’s place in the starting line-up.
Pompey made a positive start to the contest, although they had to deal with a couple of early Loughborough corners.
It did not take them long to provide a threat and after some lovely interplay between Eilidh Currie and Hannah Geer led to a corner, a shot from Tonks was saved by Laura Parsons.
The Blues were growing in confidence and another set-piece was cleared from danger following good work from Panting and McLachlan.
But it was the Foxes who took the lead midway through the first half, when Knight nodded in Laura Steele’s inswinging corner from close range.
The reply from Pompey was almost instant, however, as PANTING turned Esther Anu’s cross into the bottom corner.
Half Time: Loughborough 1 Pompey 1
When the action got back underway it was the Blues who took control – and it stayed that way for most of the second half.
They were almost caught out at the back, leaving space down the left-hand side, although a quick counter-attack was dealt with calmly by skipper Amelia Southgate.
And Loughborough went ahead against the run of play when Robyn Levett failed to hold on to a header and the ball bounced into the net off Currie.
Pompey fought back and a long-range curler from McLachlan was well saved, while the forward then sent a half-volley narrowly past the post.
Anu also had a couple of opportunities to equalise, only to smash the first straight at Parsons after being sent one-on-one with the keeper.
And the winger had an even better chance to make her mark in the closing stages, but fired wide of an open goal.
It was a performance full of desire and application from the visitors, although they could not turn a dominant display into points.
Pompey: Levett; Kirby (May 88), Southgate (c), Tonks, Currie; Rowe, Bradley; Anu, McLachlan, Geer (Perkins 73); Panting
Sub not used: Younger
🎥 Hear from #Pompey Women manager @Sadler004 after today's 2-1 defeat to @LboroFoxes ⬇️#BlueTogether 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Da9P44Okcr
— Portsmouth FC Women (@officialpompeyw) November 11, 2018