Pompey Academy enjoyed a 2-1 success over in-form Swindon at Copnor Road in their latest Youth Alliance League contest.
They took the lead when, after some patient build-up play, Brian Quarm’s delivery was converted by Sam Folarin at the near post.
Connor May (pictured) then doubled the advantage before the break, with a late Alistair Stewart strike for the visitors proving no more than a consolation.
Lead professional development phase coach Sam Hudson said: “It was a pretty solid performance against a side that were sitting at the top of the league and with just one defeat to their name.
“The start was a bit slow in terms of our pressing, but once we’d committed to that and the intensity was lifted, we found a way into the game.
“We created a few chances and it was really pleasing that both our centre-forwards scored in the first half.
"The start was a bit slow in terms of our pressing, but once we’d committed to that and the intensity was lifted, we found a way into the game."
“The first goal came from the possession we’d built up and the second one from showing good attitude in our pressing.
“Once the lads had taken what we’d been working on during training onto the pitch, then we showed glimpses of our quality.
“As the second half progressed, Swindon naturally went a bit more direct and we made a few changes, ending the game with four of our under-16s on the pitch.
“The only chances for them came due to an odd individual error from us and the goal was scored from our own attacking set-piece, which was a bit disappointing.
“That meant there was a bit of a pressured finish, but after conceding a late equaliser against Oxford in our last game, it was nice that we stayed compact on this occasion to see the game out.
“It tees us up quite nicely ahead of our FA Youth Cup tie at Eastleigh on Tuesday and we tried a few things out ahead of that one.”
Pompey: Smith; Quarm, Howard, Bosaka, Mullins; Aston; Staight (Ayres 77), Murray (Buckland 68); Keteku; Folarin (Whitelock 57), May
