Thomas Waddingham scored twice as Pompey continued their preparations for the new campaign with a 4-0 victory over Brighton U21s. Josh Murphy and Paddy Lane also found the target in the behind closed doors friendly, with the Blues still yet to concede a goal in pre-season. It was a strong side selected for the contest at the impressive American Express Elite Football Performance Centre. John Mousinho utilised most of those first team stars who were absent for the previous evening’s draw with Havant & Waterlooville. The game took a while to get into gear, but Pompey went ahead with the first proper chance of the game on 11 minutes. Murphy won the ball wide on the left and sent a low delivery into the centre that was neatly flicked home by WADDINGHAM. John Swift was then brought down 25 yards out, dusting himself off to hit a free-kick that left the crossbar rattling. Murphy tried another low ball towards Waddingham midway through the first half, although this time it was intercepted. Brighton were looking neat in possession, without finding any joy in the final third to force Nicolas Schmid into action. And Pompey began to move through the gears again as the interval neared, with Swift advancing down the middle and hitting a shot that was parried behind. Andre Dozzell’s lovely ball over the top then picked out Murphy, although he could only send his effort straight at the keeper. Adrian Segečić also fired wide after being picked out by Callum Lang, with his appeals for a penalty ignored by the referee. Half Time: Brighton 0 Pompey 1 It was the home side who threatened first following the restart, but Connor Ogilvie threw himself into the path of a shot to avert the danger. A long-range attempt was then drilled comfortably into the arms of Ben Killip, who had replaced Schmid at the break. The Seagulls were on top, only for Pompey to then go up the other end of the pitch and double their advantage on 56 minutes. Ogilvie laid the ball into the path of WADDINGHAM, who side-stepped a couple of challenges before calmly rolling the ball into the net. The visitors were looking to put the result beyond doubt and Murphy curled a shot over after working his way into space. On came Marlon Pack and Lane to provide some fresh legs, but it was a starter who increased the lead just past the hour mark. It was an opportunistic strike from MURPHY, who spotted the keeper away from his near post and stuck the ball exactly there from wide on the left. The winger then turned provider soon after, swinging in a fine cross that was converted by a bullet header from LANE. Plenty more changes followed as the second half progressed, with Mousinho looking to give everyone minutes. That served to take the sting out of the contest, although Killip did have to dive at the feet of a Brighton attacker late on to preserve the clean sheet. Pompey (4-2-3-1): Nico Schmid; Ben Killip 46); Jordan Williams (Michael Ani 74), Regan Poole (c) Hhayden Matthews 74), Conor Shaughnessy (Ibane Bowat 74), Connor Ogilvie (Jacob Farrell 71); Andre Dozzell (Zak Swanson 74), John Swift (Marlon Pack 61); Callum Lang (Paddy Lane 61), Adrian Segečić (Fraser Thomas 76), Josh Murphy (Terry Devlin 71); Thomas Waddingham (Harry Clout 74) Goals: Waddingham 11, 56, Murphy 62, Lane 70
