Pompey Academy warmed up for their Merit League One campaign with a 3-0 friendly victory over a Southampton side at Bath University. They took an early lead when Kaleem Haitham’s effort was parried clear by the opposition goalkeeper and Lewis Gill followed up to convert the loose ball. And the Blues doubled their advantage before the break, with Adam May teeing-up Fahad Rwakarambwe for a neat finish. But the goal of the game arrived courtesy of centre-back Snorre Nilsen in the second half. He surged forward from defence before playing the ball out wide, keeping his run going to collect it back, waltz through the Southampton back-line and fire into the bottom corner. Academy coach Mikey Harris said: “It was an all-round good performance and I was pleased to see the first and second year lads operating as a cohesive unit. “Alex Bass deserved his clean sheet because he made some excellent saves – one was Gordon Banks-esque to turn the ball over from point-blank range. “Now we look forward to starting our Merit League fixtures. It was important to qualify for the top division because we always want our players to test themselves.” Pompey: Bass; Davies, Nilsen, Field, Haunstrup; Rwakarambwe, Granger, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Haitham; Gill, Sayers Subs: Yates, May, Bradbury Just waiting for the first Saints fan to come on here claiming that their team contained 6 or 7 twelve year olds, a short sighted dwarf, and a couple of school girls........
Must admit that I am rather elated at the result, seeing as your academy comprehensively thrashed our kids 7-1 earlier this season in the FA Youth Cup.
As said previously with our teams composition a score reversal was on the cards but its well done to your lot I guess that's the only times we will meet in the near future except for the various cup draws but the odds are very long - so today is your turn for a day in the sun - meanwhile I am off to find myself in care of another mans hands - masseur that is.
I understand that some of the Saints boys were very upset at the end of the match, to the point where they even declined their usual Farley's Rusks. Mostly, they were upset that Pompey cheated by apparently fielding an overage Arsenal and England international. Allegedly.
At least some of our lads let your kids share their toys and colouring books after the match, and it was well past their bedtime.
The Arsenal player brought this video of his dad as a pre match inspiration, fast forward to 9;00 minutes
I watched it on You Tube, meowth - how on earth did you find it ?! If young Christian is half as good as his Dad, or older brother Alex, then we will have a useful youngster on our hands. On the bench was Lee Bradbury's son, who I believe we have signed from Havant & Waterlooville's academy.
I have just realised that this game was a friendly! A friendly- Pompey vs Saints. Wonder if that would work for the first teams, pre-season?
The would probably have to set up a "bubble" for the opposing fans to travel to the ground, even for a friendly game
It would be a tougher game than most people think sb . . . but then our under 13 need to start playing teams a league higher lol
