Match Day Thread Gillingham Academy 1 v 0 Pompey Academy

Narrow Defeat For Young Blues - Pompey beaten 1-0 at Gillingham

Pompey Academy suffered their first Merit League loss after slipping to a 1-0 defeat at Gillingham on Friday.

The only goal arrived midway through the first half, with the hosts taking advantage of a long throw to net the winner.

Academy head of coaching Shaun North said: “We were a little bit younger than our opponents and started with four members of the under-16s on the pitch.

“Gillingham are a strong and powerful group and we lost a bit of concentration from the throw, which they scored from.

“We had four or five really promising chances that unfortunately we couldn’t take, but the lads worked incredibly hard and competed well.

“They passed the ball around nicely and tried to play some good stuff whenever we could, despite them having the physical advantage.

“We’re already looking to build for next season and this will be the youth group, so it’s good experience for the schoolboys.”

Pompey: Conor Manderson; David Setters, Dan Cadman, Issiaga Kaba, Harvey Hughes; Spencer Spurway (Alfie Bridgman 70), Simpson, Josh Dockerill, Kristian Dawson (Howell 66); Adam Payce (Archie Greenough 61), Dan Gifford