Pompey Women began the new National League season with a 2-0 defeat to Watford at the PMC Stadium.
Helen Ward struck twice in the first half to ensure the Hornets left the south coast with all three points.
Jay Sadler handed competitive debuts to Laura Ingram, Roxy Lee-Stewart and Hayley Bridge, while fellow summer signings Charmaine True and Tamsin de Bunsen began on the bench.
The visitors had already created a number of half-chances by the time they took the lead on 15 minutes.
Skipper Ward collected a through ball down the right before calmly slotting past Hannah Haughton and into the bottom corner.
Katie James fired wide as the Blues went in search of a leveller, while Nina Wilson kept out a long-range effort from Becki Bath.
The Watford keeper also denied Jade Widdows and Danielle Rowe, as the hosts continued to threaten.
But Pompey fell further behind just before the break, with Ward being teed-up by Jennifer Kikomeko and curling home a shot.
Half Time: Pompey 0 Watford 2
Ingram saw an effort saved following the restart, as the Blues searched for a route back into the contest.
And Sadler soon made a double switch, with de Bunsen and Jade Bradley adding fresh legs to the forward line.
The latter was soon involved in the action, trying her luck with an ambitious 30-yard attempt that was dealt with by Wilson.
Haughton was not just a spectator at the opposite end, however, and did well to keep out Andrea Carid’s strike.
Sadler made his last throw of the dice on 68 minutes, replacing defender Jazz Younger with forward True.
And the hosts kept battling away, with a desperate clearance stopping Widdows from getting a shot away.
They were certainly not giving up and a fierce Bradley effort smashed against the crossbar in the closing stages.
There were also two de Bunsen shots that narrowly missed the target, while Wilson denied Widdows as time ran out for Pompey.
Pompey: Haughton; Tonks, Ingram, Younger (True 68), Currie; Lee-Stewart, Rowe (c), James; Widdows, Bridge (Bradley 53), Bath (de Bunsen 53)
Subs not used: Southgate, May
Attendance: 207