Louis Dennis was on target for Pompey Reserves in a 1-1 friendly draw with Reading at Hogwood Park.
There was a mixture of youth and experience in the visitors’ side, with several first team players featuring.
Dion Donohue continued his path back to full fitness following a groin injury, while there were also starts for Luke McGee, Brandon Haunstrup, Danny Rose, Adam May and Joe Mason.
Jack Nolan fired an early free-kick over the bar for the hosts at their training base, but it was Pompey who dominated the first half.
Dennis linked up well with Bradley Lethbridge and the latter’s delivery was cut out before his team-mate could reach it.
Mason then did well to find Dan Smith, whose shot cleared the crossbar as the Blues sought an opener.
And they went ahead midway through the half, as DENNIS neatly controlled Lethbridge’s pass before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
It was Dennis providing the biggest threat and when he was stopped in his tracks by a crude Cameron Green challenge, Haunstrup’s free-kick was deflected wide.
With Pompey posing all the questions, May then seized on a loose ball and forced Luke Southwood into a decent stop.
McGee did make a fine save to keep out Garath McCleary’s header just before the break, not knowing that the winger had been flagged offside.
Half-Time: Reading 0 Pompey 1
But the Royals improved after the interval and there should really have been someone present to meet Adam Liddle’s floated ball into the box.
A fluent move from the Blues then created an opening at the other end, with Rose’s delicate shot clipping the top of the bar.
And May came close from a free-kick that substitute keeper Jokull Andresson made an almighty mess of, only to claw the ball from the line.
Reading levelled on 65 minutes when Haji Mnoga brought down Liddle in the box and Gabriel Osho stepped up to fire home from the penalty spot.
He was one of nine changes made on the hour mark by the hosts, who were denied more goals by some key McGee saves.
They had a decent chance when a corner fell enticingly for Ade Shokunbi, but he wastefully fired over the bar.
McGee was then on hand to deny Tyler Frost in the closing stages, with Pompey able to scramble the ball clear and ensure the contest finished all square.
Reading: Southwood (J.Andresson 46); Howe (Balogun 60), Odimayo (Burley 60), Holmes (Osho 60), Green (Medford-Smith 60); Sidoel (Shokunbi 60), Coleman (Omolabi 60); McCleary (Wallace 60), Nolan, Frost (Barrett 60); Liddle (House 60)
Pompey: McGee; Smith (Kavanagh 56), Mnoga, Dandy, Haunstrup; May, Rose; Lethbridge (Johnston 78), Dennis, Donohue (Flint 59); Mason
Subs not used: L.Pitman, Kelly, Read, Whiting
🎥 Here's the @LDennis10_ goal that gave #Pompey the lead.
— Portsmouth FC (@officialpompey) September 11, 2018
Great finish, Louis! pic.twitter.com/hTTsvwfTlM