Thomas Waddingham netted twice as Portsmouth maintained their perfect pre-season record with a comprehensive 4-0 triumph over Brighton U21s. Josh Murphy and Paddy Lane also scored in the closed-door fixture.
The Blues extended their impressive start to pre-season preparations, maintaining their clean sheet record at Brighton’s American Express Elite Football Performance Centre.
John Mousinho fielded a strong XI featuring first-team regulars who had missed the previous evening’s stalemate against Havant & Waterlooville.
The match started slowly before Pompey broke the deadlock on 11 minutes through their first meaningful attack. Murphy collected possession on the left flank before delivering a precise cross that Waddingham cleverly flicked home.
John Swift nearly doubled the advantage moments later, earning a free-kick 25 yards from goal before rattling the crossbar with his subsequent effort.
Murphy sought out Waddingham again midway through the opening period, though his delivery was this time cut out by Brighton’s defence.
The Seagulls enjoyed neat possession without troubling Nicolas Schmid in the Pompey goal, failing to create clear-cut opportunities in the final third.
Portsmouth raised their tempo as half-time approached, with Swift driving forward centrally before forcing a save that was parried to safety.
Andre Dozzell’s excellent through ball then released Murphy, but the winger could only direct his attempt straight at the Brighton goalkeeper.
Adrian Segečić fired wide after good work from Callum Lang, with his penalty appeals waved away by the referee.
Half-time: Brighton U21s 0 Portsmouth 1
Brighton emerged brighter after the interval, but Connor Ogilvie produced a crucial block to deny their first meaningful effort.
A long-range strike was comfortably gathered by Ben Killip, who had replaced Schmid for the second half.
The hosts enjoyed a spell of dominance before Portsmouth struck again on 56 minutes through Waddingham’s second goal. Ogilvie’s pass found the striker, who skilfully evaded two challenges before calmly slotting home.
Portsmouth sought to kill off the contest, with Murphy curling an effort over after creating space in dangerous territory.
Marlon Pack and Lane entered as substitutes to provide fresh impetus, but it was Murphy who extended the lead just after the hour mark with an opportunistic finish. Spotting the goalkeeper off his near post, the winger found the target from a wide position.
Murphy quickly turned provider, delivering an inviting cross that Lane powered home with a bullet header to complete the scoring.
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Mousinho made numerous changes as the second half progressed, ensuring valuable minutes for his entire squad.
The substitutions reduced the game’s intensity, though Killip remained alert to preserve the clean sheet with a late diving save at a Brighton attacker’s feet.
Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): Schmid (Killip 46); Williams (Ani 74), Poole (c) (Matthews 74), Shaughnessy (Bowat 74), Ogilvie (Farrell 71); Dozzell (Swanson 74), Swift (Pack 61); Lang (Lane 61), Segečić (Thomas 76), Murphy (Devlin 71); Waddingham (Clout 74)
Scorers: Waddingham 11, 56; Murphy 62; Lane 70
