A strong Pompey side secured a 2-1 friendly victory over Oxford at Baffins’ PMC Stadium.
Louis Dennis impressed for the hosts and opened the scoring before the break, while Joe Mason’s penalty secured the win after Dejon Noel-Williams had levelled.
There were plenty of first team players on display for the Blues, with a fit-again Anton Walkes and Jack Whatmough both starting.
It was Pompey that applied the early pressure and after firing one shot over, Dennis forced Jack Stevens to make a save at his near post.
But chances were extremely few and far behind in a first half that saw the hosts enjoy the territorial advantage.
There was a lovely Joe Dandy cross from the right that led to Mason glancing a header narrowly wide.
Owen James had the first sniff of goal for the visitors, hitting a free-kick over and then drawing a comfortable save from Luke McGee.
But it was the Blues that broke the deadlock on 36 minutes when Whatmough’s long ball was headed on by David Wheeler and DENNIS stroked a shot home from the edge of the box.
And the lead might have been doubled just before the break, as Mason’s delivery found Wheeler, whose stabbed effort was clutched by Stevens.
Half Time: Pompey 1 Oxford 0
The second half was as slow to get going as the first, although Dennis had a free-kick that cleared the crossbar.
Noel-Williams then met a cross from wide on the left, only to see his header bounce over the crossbar.
But the striker drew Oxford level moments later, sliding in to convert another delivery from the same flank.
Pompey had the chance to retake the lead on 76 minutes, however, when Mason cut into the area and was fouled by Steven Johnson-Fikula.
It was MASON who picked himself up to take the penalty and he sent a powerful effort high into the net.
Walkes then had an opportunity to wrap things up after ghosting in unchallenged to meet a Dennis free-kick, but the ball flew over.
McGee watched Johnson-Filkula’s header fly off target at the other end as United attempted to get something from the contest.
But it was the Blues rhat finished the game on top and Stevens did brilliantly to tip Ben Thompson’s drive.
Dennis then came close to capping a fine performance with his second goal, with a shot that narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Pompey: McGee; Walkes, Whatmough (Mnoga 61), Dandy, Haunstrup; B.Thompson, Rose (c); Wheeler, Dennis, Flint; Mason
Subs not used: Ridley, Kavanagh, Kelly, Read, Whiting, Johnston
Oxford: Stevens; Lofthouse, Johnson-Fikula, Berry-Hargreaves, Taylor; Heap (c), Hopkins; R.James, Noel-Williams, O.James; Bradbury (Spasov 46)
Subs not used: Agboola, Jones, McCreadie
Referee: Alex Blake
🎥 And here's that goal from @LDennis10_ that has proven to be the difference at half time.
— Portsmouth FC (@officialpompey) September 24, 2018
Here's hoping for more in the second 45! 🤞 pic.twitter.com/cVNOsdF2eo
🎥 And here's that winning goal from Joe Mason 💪
— Portsmouth FC (@officialpompey) September 24, 2018
If you're going to be bundled over in the box, you may as well get back up and slot away the resulting spot kick! #Pompey pic.twitter.com/rY6vTRvDkg