Match Day Thread Erith 0 v 1 Pompey - FA Youth Cup 1st Round

Academy Beat Erith In FA Youth Cup - Bridgman fires Blues into round two.

please log in to view this image

Pompey Academy booked their place in the second round of the FA Youth Cup with a narrow victory at Erith Town.

Alfie Bridgman struck the only goal of the tie in the first half, getting forward down the left, cutting inside and finding the net.

Liam Daish was pleased to see his side progress in the competition, but felt there was plenty of room for improvement.

The Professional development phase coach said: “We started in a fairly positive manner and switched the ball well, scoring a good goal through Alfie. There were some nice moments of play.

“We then missed a great opportunity to double the lead early in the second half, as Dan Gifford hit the post when you’d normally expect him to score.

“The momentum swung from that point. It gave our opponents some hope and we struggled to deal with that as the game became a lot more transitional.

“On the pitch, we couldn’t work out what was required in order to transfer the pressure and, at times, it was pretty heart in mouth.

“We said afterwards that we have to be better in those moments and quickly learn how we can swing the momentum back into our favour.

“Erith were going for it – they were just one goal behind at home, with the crowd really pushing them on.

“Our lads stuck at the task and defended resolutely, but we’d lost that control that we had in the game. I’d have liked us to go on and get a second or third.

“Everyone’s a good player under no pressure, but it’s about being able to make the right passes or decisions when teams are asking what we’re made of.

“We learnt last season that you can get turned over if you’re not on your game – it doesn’t matter who you are or the side you’re facing.

“When it’s a cold, wet night at a non-league ground, that pressure is always going to be on us to win and put the tie to bed. That’s what everyone expects.

“There’s always an upset on the cards and I think we’d probably have found it easier facing another academy team.”

Pompey: Toby Steward; Jack Fox (David Setters 57), Izzy Kaba (c), Harvey Hughes; Jamie Howell, Harry Jewitt-White, Elliott Simpson (Bosaka 75), Alfie Bridgman; Williams, Dan Gifford, Adam Payce (Hurst 83)
Subs not used: Conor Manderson, Laidlaw