Goals from Eoin Teggart and Brett Pitman ensured Pompey maintained their winning start to pre-season with victory over Bognor. Both of the visitors’ goals came in a first half they dominated, with a couple of neat finishes putting them on top at Nyewood Lane. But they probably should have been further ahead at the break, as the Blues struck the crossbar on three separate occasions. There was a mixture of youth and experience in the Pompey line-up, with the likes of Pitman and Christian Burgess accompanied by a smattering of academy players. It was Bognor who made the brighter start, although Burgess and centre-back partner Matt Casey protected Alex Bass’ goal. And the visitors soon began to move through the gears, with Andy Cannon sending a fierce shot dipping against the underside of the crossbar. The Rocks then had an opportunity of their own, with Stuart Green unable to turn home Jimmy Muitt’s cross and seeing his blushes spared by an offside flag. Pompey took the lead from the resulting free-kick, as Eoin TEGGART cut inside from the right and curled a shot into the top corner. And the advantage was soon doubled on 25 minutes, with Leon Maloney doing well to get into the box and find Pitman. He managed to dig out a shot that again hit the underside of the bar and Teggart was unable to convert the loose ball. Amazingly, the same piece of woodwork was struck for a third time before the interval, although the skipper this time hit the top of it with a dinked attempt. But Brett PITMAN did have a goal on 34 minutes, hitting a first-time finish into the bottom corner after being slipped in by Haji Mnoga. The right-back might have got on the scoresheet himself before the break, but his effort was deflected into the arms of Rocks keeper Charlie Searle. Half Time: Bognor 0 Pompey 2 The average age of the visitors was brought down at the start of the second, with Pitman and Bryn Morris making way for youngsters Harry Anderson and Ethan Robb. And Bognor soon managed to pull a goal back, with Dan SMITH on hand to find the target after Bass had made a good save. Muitt had a chance to level a few minutes later, although the forward dragged his shot wide of the post. The Rocks were certainly enjoying more of the ball since the restart, although were too often let down by a poor final delivery. Smith was sent through on goal on 73 minutes, but his former team-mate Bass was quickly off his line to make the save. It was bit quieter at the other end of the pitch, although a dangerous delivery from Brandon Haunstrup did lead to a corner. Cannon was the player to send it into the mixer, with Burgess – now wearing the armband – nodding the ball narrowly past the post. A few late substitutions disrupted the flow of the game, although Burgess still had to throw himself into the path of Liam Brady's shot to prevent Bognor from grabbing a late leveller. Bognor (4-3-3): Searle; Whyte (c), Crane, Wood (Bingham 82), A.Leigh (Breed 55); Read (Dunn 69), T.Leigh, Tuck (Scutt 69); Muitt (Brady 84), Smith, Green (Williamson 80) Goals: Smith 48 Sub not used: Simmonds Pompey XI (4-2-3-1): Bass; Mnoga, Burgess, Casey, Haunstrup; Storey (Kavanagh 68), Morris (Robb 46); Maloney, Cannon, Teggart; Pitman (c) (Anderson 46 (Stanley 80)) Goals: Teggart 21, Pitman 34 Subs not used: Durin, Dandy, Hancott Referee: Dan Austin
