Lee Brown and Ronan Curtis scored free-kicks to ensure Pompey got their pre-season campaign off to a winning start by beating Norwich’s under-23 side.
Both goals came in the first half of the contest at a drizzly and humid Five Lakes Resort in Essex, where the Blues have been based for a training camp.
Kenny Jackett named a different side in each 45-minute period, with plenty of youngsters featuring after the break.
But Ben Close (groin), Reeco Hackett-Fairchild (knee) and Ellis Harrison (calf) all missed out with minor injury problems.
It was the ‘hosts’ from the south coast who were first to threaten with a John Marquis shot from the edge of the box that drew a comfortable save.
The game was taking place behind closed doors, but a few residents stopped by on their golf carts to catch some of the action.
They witnessed Bryn Morris fire another effort over the crossbar, while a corner from Marcus Harness was parried to safety by Jon McCracken.
At the other end, when Alex Bass parried a shot, Paul Downing, Brown and James Bolton all had to fling themselves in front of the ball in quick succession.
Marquis was denied an opener by McCracken, who acrobatically tipped over his header from a pin-point Brown delivery.
And it was BROWN who did break the deadlock on 30 minutes, curling a free-kick around the wall and into the bottom corner after Curtis had been felled just outside the box.
Another set-piece saw the advantage doubled moments later, with a foul on Marquis leading to CURTIS impressively finding the net.
Norwich almost reduced their deficit in fortunate fashion just before the break, but Bass brilliantly prevented Downing from nodding into his own net.
Half Time: Pompey 2 Norwich U23 0
Eight academy products were among the 11 players introduced after the interval, with Jack Whatmough among them.
Harvey Rew and Eoin Teggart looked particularly threatening going down the left, although chances were proving harder to come by.
Harrison Brook had penalty appeals waved away following a challenge in the box, while Teggart’s low effort was well saved.
The latter then had another effort – this time from an acute angle – kept out after being released by Alfie Stanley.
But Norwich had opportunities of their own and Craig MacGillivray made several fine stops to ensure Pompey’s clean sheet remained intact.
First Half: Bass; Bolton, Downing, Raggett, Brown; Naylor (c), Morris; Harness, Williams, Curtis; Marquis
Second Half: MacGillivray; Kavanagh, Mnoga, Whatmough, Rew; Storey, Cannon; Brook, Evans, Teggart; Stanley