Portsmouth 3 Argyle Youth 0
AFTER a good start to this season's EFL Youth Alliance fixtures the Argyle u-18s have now lost their next two games without scoring a goal.
The midday encounter was played on a very good surface at Pompey's Rokko training ground and it was the home side who started well, hitting the Pilgrim crossbar in the opening minutes.
Argyle regained their composure and were looking better when a foul by Carlo Garside presented Pompey with a penalty but goalkeeper Tyler Coombes made it three spot-kick saves in as many games this season.
Coombes then made a fine double save before the home side took a 19th-minute lead with a superb 25-yard striker after Rhys Shirley had been caught in possession.
Argyle could have drawn level on 29 minutes but the officials failed to spot a handball in the home area. Instead, Pompey broke upfield to make it 2-0. Back came the young Greens with their best chance of the game but Shirley sent a free header over the bar.
Argyle began the second half better with Rubin Wilson having his close-range effort blocked by the home 'keeper and Shirley showed good feet before his shot on the turn flew over the bar.
Pompey notched their third goal on 57 minutes after Ollie Tomlinson had failed to clear the ball. To their credit, Argyle came back with Matt Bartlett firing a good chance into the side netting before Coombes made another good save.
Reuben Collum then smashed a 20-yard free-kick against the home bar and Tomlinson had a close-range shot saved but the last say almost went to Pompey as they hit the bar in the final minutes.
Argyle: Tyler Coombes; Isaac Burden, Reuben Collum, Ollie Tomlinson, Oscar Halls (Charlie Elkington 84), Brandon Pursall, Rhys Shirley, Carl Garside (Mckenzie Toms 79), Rubin Wilson, Alfie Wotton, Matt Bartlett (Alfie Hudd 69). Substitute not used: Harry Townsend.