Pompey Academy made an early exit from the Youth Alliance Cup after losing 3-2 at Bromley in the preliminary round. The visitors were missing several key players who were involved for John Mousinho’s senior side later in the day. But they managed to fight back from two goals down,with Dexter Lee teeing-up Reggie Buckland to reduce the deficit, then winning a penalty that was converted by Beau Mullins. Both sides later had a player sent off, but it was Bromley who managed to find a late winner to progress in the competition. Lead professional development phase coach Sam Hudson said: “We didn’t really get going in the first half on what was a particularly hot day. “We were poor on the ball and weren’t duelling well enough at all. It was quite sloppy and we found ourselves two goals down. “There was a different shape from us that we haven’t used more. I take some responsibility for that, but still expected more from the players. “Once we started pressing better, we managed to find ourselves back in the game and the boys began to settle in the second half. “We scored a great counter-attacking goal to reduce the deficit and then found ourselves level from the spot. “Dexter drove forward and found Reggie for the first goal and then won the penalty – it was his first 45 minutes since getting injured almost a year ago, so that was pleasing. “Bromley went down to 10 and we had a few chances, while being able to take some control back, only to then get a red card ourselves. “Reggie collected two yellow cards in as many minutes and both were for his reactions to fouls. That destroyed our momentum and we conceded late on. “After deservedly getting back level, we were quite naïve to not see out those closing stages and take the tie to penalties.” Pompey: Oscar Glover; Kearney, George Wilson, Ashton Sizer, Beau Mullins; George Tregunna (Elisha Pfupa 46), Reggie Buckland, Holubec; Connor, Dane Bailey, Kyran Sylvanus (Dexter Lee 46)
