Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth [Credit: Imago]
Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth [Credit: Imago]
Match

Sam Hudson drops 'Dominant' verdict after what Portsmouth Academy did

Dan Godfrey
Dan Godfrey

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites including Pompey News between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelancer in various sports. Dan was born and raised in Portsmouth, comes from a Pompey-supporting family, and was in attendance at both of the club's FA Cup finals in 2008 and 2010.

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Portsmouth Under-18s are back on a winning note after tearing apart Forest Green Rovers 4-1 on the road in the Youth Alliance League.

As reported on the Portsmouth FC official website [10 November], the four-goal haul in Gloucestershire on Saturday [9 November] lifts Pompey to eighth in the 19-team southern section of the league.

Elisha Pfupa, Ashton Sizer, Jayden Keteku and Tayo Singerr all scored a goal apiece to ensure the win, with U18 coach Sam Hudson jubilant at the return to winning ways.

"It was a good win and also a really positive performance from us," he said.

"We started on the front and created a lot of early chances and, unlike some of our previous games, we were rewarded for that.

"Ashton is from the under-16s and it was a extremely positive sign to get another goal from one of the younger age groups.

"We had plenty of attempts, crosses and final third entries, so it was pretty dominant from us in all areas. We’re scoring a lot of goals at the moment and then when we tighten up at the back, we look a useful side."

Portsmouth Under-18s have massively developed since summer

Having started the season looking disorganised, disjointed and unsure of their surroundings, Hudson's young Portsmouth starlets have really come on since.

The comprehensive victory at Forest Green would never have been achieved back in August, demonstrating the learning curve which is exactly ideal for this level of football.

Fans would be naive to believe Hudson, John Mousinho and Rich Hughes do not have regular discussions about the team's development and more crucially how individuals are progressing, with a view to eventually breaking into the first-team setup.

Portsmouth sporting director Rich Hughes
Portsmouth sporting director Rich Hughes [Credit: Portsmouth FC - YouTube]

These teenage stars will be hoping the club's lack of an Under-21 side can benefit their chances of being fast-tracked through to the first-team picture in good time, and performances like that of Saturday are doing their cause little harm.

Pompey reunite with Exeter City this weekend [16 November] in the league, and will seek to avenge the 5-3 defeat from 2 November in the Youth Alliance Cup group stage.

In other Portsmouth news, Jobi McAnuff identifies what can crucially give the Blues more belief this season.

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