please log in to view this image Josh Murphy, Kusini Yengi and Jack Sparkes all found the target as Pompey got pre-season off to a confident opening with a 3-1 victory at Gosport. The Blues created a host of chances in an unusually entertaining contest for this time of year, with keeper Max Evans the busiest opposition player. Murphy marked his first appearance in the shirt with a smart finish midway through the first half, while Yengi doubled the lead. Asher Yearwood reduced Boro’s deficit late on, only for Jack Sparkes to score a fantastic goal with the final kick of the ball. John Mousinho sent a strong squad to Privett Park, with all of his new signings in attendance against Southern League opposition. Murphy and Jordan Williams appeared in the first half, while Jordan Archer and Sammy Silvera featured after the break and Reuben Swann watched from the bench. The visitors made a positive start and their attacking trialist shot over following good work from Williams on the right. Connor Ogilvie then met a free-kick from the impressive Murphy, but the defender’s header was not powerful enough to trouble Evans. Pompey remained on the attack and after some good work by Callum Lang, the trialist sent another effort over the crossbar. So it came as no surprise to see them break the deadlock on 20 minutes, with two of the bright sparks combining. Lang slipped a pass through to MURPHY in the area and the summer signing fired past the helpless Evans. Murphy almost grabbed an immediate second, with a long-range strike drawing a diving save from Evans. Gosport then came close to scoring themselves, as a quick break up the pitch led to Harry Kavanagh teeing-up Asher Yearwood to shoot wide. The chances began to dry up as the half progressed, although Pompey were still looking pretty comfortable. Half Time: Gosport 0 Pompey 1 The entire side was changed at the break, with Silvera and a fit-again Tom McIntyre among those to enter the fray. And the former was an immediate thorn in Gosport’s side, drawing a save from Evans after some tricky footwork. Paddy Lane’s half-volleyed effort was also dealt with, as the Blues looked to give themselves a cushion. It should have arrived when Christian Saydee sent Lane racing through on goal, but Evans raced to the edge of the box to make a key block. YENGI showed a calmer touch when he surged into the box just past the hour mark, however, doubling the advantage with a deft dink into the net. Pompey were threatening to run riot and when Tom Lowery’s fine pass picked out Silvera on the left, the loanee cut inside and fired into the side netting. Yengi then turned provider, cutting the ball back for Saydee to hit a low strip that Evans saved low down. Owen Moxon was next to test the keeper’s reflexes, courtesy of a cleanly-struck shot from the edge of the box. But Boro had late cause for cheer, as Yearwood was on hand to fire home on 86 minutes after Archer had kept out Dan Wooden’s curling free-kick. It was Pompey who had the final say, though, as a superb left-footed strike from SPARKES was curled into the top corner to end the contest in style. please log in to view this image Gosport (4-4-2): Evans; Kavanagh, Morrison, Wassmer, Williams (c); Rowe, Murray, Hollands, Tarbuck; Yearwood, Stanley Goals: Yearwood 86 Pompey first half (4-2-3-1): Norris; Williams, Trialist A, Towler, Ogilvie; Pack (c), Stevenson; Scully, Lang, Murphy; Trialist B Pompey second half (4-2-3-1): Archer; Devlin, Shaughnessy (c), McIntyre, Sparkes; Moxon, Lowery; Lane, Saydee, Silvera; Yengi Pompey goals: Murphy 20, Yengi 61, Sparkes 90 Pompey bookings: Lowery Pompey unused subs: Clout, Swann Referee: Tom Copping
I believe that the trialist centre half was Jamal Marcus Baptiste, aged 20, 6' tall, and recently released by Manchester City. He is an England Under 19 international. The trialist forward was Sean Patton (Derry - on loan at Finn Harps).
