Match Day Thread Forest Green Rovers 1 v 4 Pompey - Academy Game

Dan Gifford Treble Helps Blues Beat Forest Green - Charlie Bell also on target in academy victory.

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Pompey Academy continued their winning start to 2021 with a 4-1 Youth Alliance League victory at Forest Green.

Dan Gifford (pictured) hit a hat-trick to add to his goal against Swindon last week, while a Charlie Bell free-kick ensured the Blues were cruising at the interval.

The hosts reduced their deficit in the second half, but Pompey comfortably saw the game out to claim all three points.

Professional development phase coach Liam Daish said: “The lads started off really well and it was a fine finish from Dan to open the scoring.

“He took all his goals well and was a real pest. After a few injury problems, that will do his confidence the world of good.

“It was a nice free-kick from Charlie to ensure we were in control at the break, although the game did get a bit scrappy and niggly in the second half.

“Forest Green were obviously trying to get back into it, but our defenders were excellent. They held a really high line and were constantly pressing our opponents.

“Conor Manderson took a bit of a blow to the face and so Toby Steward came on. He’s one of our under-16s and it was good experience for him.

“We’d worked hard in training during the week and it was encouraging to see the boys implement that into a match situation.

“It was a really good day for us and an extremely positive performance. The result was a real team effort.”

Pompey: Conor Manderson (Toby Steward 74); David Setters, Issiaga Kaba, Harvey Rew, Harvey Hughes (Dan Cadman 79); Harry Jewitt-White, Charlie Bell; Kristian Dawson (Seok Jae Lee 68), Alfie Bridgman, Harrison Brook; Dan Gifford