Hawks 0 Pompey 5

The Blues continued their warm-up for the new campaign with a goal glut at Westleigh Park.

Two Carl Baker goals and efforts from Gary Roberts, Curtis Main and triallist Noel Hunt did the damage.

It was a useful workout against Lee Bradbury’s men who competed from start to finish.

But a strong Pompey side carved out chance after chance as they begin to find the fluidity they will need for the season ahead.

It was a dominant opening 45 minutes from the Blues.

And they should have had more than two goals to show for their play at the interval.

Danny Rose and Conor Chaplin both had early chances.

But triallist Michael Crowe was also forced into a fine save to keep out a fine 25-yarder from former Pompey man Bradley Tarbuck.

Paul Cook’s side took the lead after 12 minutes as Milan Lalkovic freed Roberts and he advanced before coolly dinking his finish past Ryan Young.

Lalkovic and three further Baker chances followed as the one-way traffic continued.

But the summer arrival from MK Dons lit up the clash moments before half-time with a wonderful strike.

There seemed little danger for the Hawks until Baker took aim from 30 yards and hit a dipping, swerving 30-yarder in off the underside of the bar.

There were no changes at the break as the Pompey pressure continued with Chaplin forcing Young into a sharp, sprawling save.

Andreas Robinson then had to clear from a yard out as Enda Stevens cut his ball across the face of goal.

Pompey extended their advantage in the 56th minute as Lalkovic’s 20-yarder was saved by Young but Roberts was there to roll the ball into the path of Baker who tapped home.

That was the cue for Hunt to be introduced in place of Chaplin.

And he had the quality of Stevens to thank as he took Doyle’s pass on his chest and crossed for Hunt to slide the ball home after 69 minutes.

It took four minutes for Main to open his Pompey account after his introduction, as he snaffled away Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain’s parried 20-yard drive in expert fashion.

Then Main was unlucky not to get a second with a breathtaking hit from 25 yards which came back off the post.

That was the end of the scoring on a decent night’s work for Cook’s men.