Pompey Academy missed out on the chance to lift silverware at Fratton Park after losing 3-1 to Preston in the Youth Alliance Cup final.
A close contest saw the sides trade early goals, with Harry Clout quickly cancelling out Theo Carroll’s opener.
But Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile and Troy Tarry both struck for the visitors before the break and Sam Hudson’s side were unable to find a way back against their more physical opponents.
There were plenty of positive moments from the young Blues, however, who were watched from the South Stand by John Mousinho and Rich Hughes.
It was the visitors who were first to threaten and Malachi Osei-Owusu had to scramble across his goal to deal with Theo Mawene’s deflected free-kick.
And the keeper was called into action again moment later to repel a long-range strike from the same player.
But the Blues soon started to apply some pressure of their own and skipper Jack Fox’s effort was blocked before Maxwell Hurst’s downwards header bounced over.
They fell behind on seven minutes, however, as Carroll nipped in to collect Tarry’s forward pass and slot home.
Pompey’s response was positive and they soon found themselves level after launching a quick break up the pitch.
The ball was worked out to Koby Mottoh on the right and his low delivery was turned home by CLOUT at the back post.
Both sides were looking more than capable of adding to the scoring, with Max Wilson sending a free-kick narrowly wide for the Lilywhites.
The lively Clout then went close at the other end, finding space to run into the box and roll a shot agonisingly wide.
But it was Preston who went back ahead on 30 minutes, when Wilson nodded the ball on for Rodriguez-Gentile to calmly slot into the net.
Clout was still causing havoc for the Blues and after cutting inside from the left, he laid a pass off for Brian Quarm to hit a shot that was deflected just wide.
They were undone just before the break, though, after a free-kick was wasted and the visitors broke quickly up the pitch.
A low delivery from Kacper Pasiek managed to squeeze its way through to the back post, where Tarry tapped home.
And it might have got even worse for Pompey in stoppage-time, but after a defensive mix-up saw Carroll find the net, their blushes were spared by an offside flag.
Half Time: Pompey 1 Preston 3
The hosts started the second half brightly and a stretching Mottoh could not quite reach the ball when Harvey Ladlaw’s cross was nodded on by Hurst.
Mottoh then fired narrowly over from a Clout delivery before the latter player forced Tommy Davis into action with a fierce strike.
The chances started to dry up after that lively opening, however, with the Blues still probing, but being held back by resolute opponents.
They won a couple of corners that came to nothing as the visitors tried to hang on to their advantage.
Connor May replaced Jayden Keteku on 69 minutes as Hudson looked to inject some fresh legs into his forward line.
Pompey were not prepared to just sit back and accept defeat, with a cross from Laidlaw glanced past the post by Hurst.
But their opponents were doing a good job of keeping the ball up the other end of the pitch as the contest wound down.
And Preston were able to see out the closing stages to ensure they got their hands on the Youth Alliance Cup.
Pompey (4-2-3-1): Oseu-Owusu (Glover 88); Quarm, Bosaka, Fox (c), Laidlaw; Murray, Aston; Mottoh, Keteku (May 69), Clout; Hurst
Goals: Clout 13
Subs not used: Buckland, Staight, Singerr
Preston (3-4-1-2): Davis; Blake, Wilkinson, McGhee; Tarry, Wilson (c), Brindle, Pasiek; Mawene; Carroll (Goldsmith 90+4), Rodriguez-Gentile
Goals: Carroll 7, Rodriguez-Gentile 30, Tarry 42
Booked: Carroll
Subs not used: Stowell, Critchley, Sringfellow, Garrigan
Referee: Tom Farr
Attendance: 904
