It was a moment of quality that lit up an otherwise dour Checkatrade Trophy encounter at Broadfield Stadium.
Dion Donohue’s precise first half finish was enough to see off Crawley and book a spot in the knockout stages.
It was his first goal in a Pompey shirt and came after illness and injury delayed his start to the season.
And Donohue was pleased to help secure qualification from Southern Group A with a match to spare.
He said: “It’s obviously good to be back into the team and to contribute to the victory with a goal.
“There were a good 10-15 minutes before I really got into it and, overall, I’m happy with the performance.
"I got some assists last season, but no goals, so it was something that I felt I needed to add to my game."
“That takes us through to the knockout stages now, which is the main thing, as well as coming through unscathed.
“As soon as we broke I just thought I’d try to get on the end of it and when the ball came to me I was out wide.
“Their player was catching up to me, so I cut inside and usually the right foot is just for standing – I was glad to see it go in.
“I got some assists last season, but no goals, so it was something that I felt I needed to add to my game.”
Donohue suffered a bout of glandular fever over the summer, while he also picked up groin and hamstring injuries.
He said: “It’s been very frustrating and hard at times, but luckily I’ve got good people around me and the gaffer’s been nothing but supportive.
“The doctor said the glandular fever can take a while to go completely and I don’t know whether it was part of the injuries I’ve had.
“But I feel fit now and I’m not blowing up after training, so hopefully I can put all that behind me and move forward.”