Match Day Thread Pompey Academy 1 v 2 Yeovil Town Academy

Academy Beaten By Yeovil - Young Blues end 2019 with a defeat.

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Pompey Academy finished 2019 on a disappointing note as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Yeovil at Furze Lane.

The visitors went ahead in the opening stages of the Youth Alliance League contest and doubled their lead after the break.

Substitute Harry Anderson (pictured) raced onto a ball over the top to reduce the deficit at the death, but there was no time left for the Blues to find an equaliser.

Academy manager Mark Kelly said: “The lads struggled and looked a bit low, which is perhaps down to the volume of games we’ve had lately.

“The start was poor and we struggled to find any decent patterns of play, which continued into the rest of the game.

“We couldn’t get into areas that would really hurt our opponents and although we had control of possession, were lacking any real punch.

“Yeovil are a big, powerful side and if you let them get in behind you, then you’re going to cause yourself problems.

“It was the last game of 2019 and there has been a lot of productive work from the boys over the past 12 months.

“But there have been plenty of matches – especially with the under-23 fixtures – and I can’t knock their work-rate.

“It’ll be nice for them to have a little break now and be ready to go again in January, when the schedule soon starts to get busy again.”

Pompey: Taylor Seymour; Harry Kavanagh, Tom Bruce, Ethan Robb, Liam Kelly; Stan Bridgman, Charlie Bell (Jewitt-White 72); Eoin Teggart, Seok Jae Lee (Harry Anderson 51), Harrison Brook (Hughes 72); Alfie Stanley