Hudson reacts as Portsmouth Academy’s winning run halted in cruel manner
Portsmouth Under-18s conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to Newport County on Saturday (26 October) to deny them a fifth win in a row.
Connor May opened the scoring for Pompey at the club’s Copnor Road training ground after Jermaine Osifo was incorrectly thwarted by the offside flag, only to be pegged back in the second added-on minute to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Sam Hudson’s Blues had built a four-game streak of wins in all competitions since last facing Newport, where they suffered a 1-0 defeat on 14 September, and the result leaves them ninth in the Youth Alliance League.
Hudson told the official Portsmouth FC website [27 October]: “It’s obviously disappointing to be ahead going into stoppage time and not come away with all three points.
“On balance, however, a draw was probably the fair result because both sides had a couple of clear-cut chances.
“We thought we’d gone ahead in the first half with a goal that was ruled out for offside, although when we watched it back Jermaine was clearly onside. But we pressed well and that gave us a platform to compete high up the pitch, with our midfield and forwards winning the ball back in dangerous areas.”
Portsmouth Academy raising the levels despite draw
Portsmouth started poorly this season but have really found their feet in Under-18s football with the club’s new scholar intake.
Hudson has regularly expressed his pride in the progress of the Blues’ eager young charges, who before the weekend’s game had scored 14 goals in four wins across three different competitions.
The Blues have won three, lost three and now collected the first draw of their Youth Alliance League campaign, while competing in both the Youth Alliance Cup, and the Professional Development League [PDL] Cup – both of which hold a group phase.
Cup action returns to raise the curtain on next month with the first [2 November] of two home meetings with Exeter City in the space of a fortnight, either side of a trip to face Forest Green [9 November].
And with injuries plaguing John Mousinho’s first-team squad, the youngsters will be training at their level best for any potential senior recognition moving forward.
In other Portsmouth news, Jordan Archer describes “justice” having made his first two Blues appearances.
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