Pompey Academy held to Bournemouth stalemate

Pompey Academy were held to a goalless draw with AFC Bournemouth in Merit League 1.
Bradley Lethbridge in action for Pompey Academy against AFC Bouremouth. Picture: Charlotte JeffesBradley Lethbridge in action for Pompey Academy against AFC Bouremouth. Picture: Charlotte Jeffes
Bradley Lethbridge in action for Pompey Academy against AFC Bouremouth. Picture: Charlotte Jeffes

The clash at the Blues’ Roko training base was a cagey affair for the most part, with few clear-cut chances created by both sides.

The hosts had their first sight on goal in the eighth minute when Leon Maloney’s diagonal cross picked out the run of Oscar Johnston, but the winger was unable to make a decent connection with his effort.

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Schoolboy Leon Pitman lined up between the posts for Pompey and made a brilliant stop to his left on 15 minutes.

The keeper was called into action again seven minutes later when he beat away a powerful 25-yard shot.

Mark Kelly’s troops then hit the Cherries on the counter-attack from the resulting corner.

Bradley Lethbridge found Maloney on the overlap, but he blazed his right-footed effort wide.

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Three minutes before half-time, Johnston cut inside and tried his luck from outside the box, but the visiting keeper easily claimed his left-foot shot.

Pompey started the better side after the interval and should have taken the lead in the 53rd minute.

Alfie Stanley teed Lethbridge up inside the box, but he fluffed his lines and failed to make a decent connection with his shot.

It was then Stanley’s turn to miss a chance in the same vein six minutes later after he was picked out by Johnston.

Bournemouth stepped it up in the closing stages.

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Six minutes from time Pitman alertly raced off his line to deny Antonio Diaz.

The Blues then had a chance to clinch the win when Johnston stole the ball inside the visitors’ box and found James Whiting, whose right-footed shot sailed well over the bar.

There was one final opportunity for the visitors in stoppage-time when Diaz broke into Pompey’s box but he lacked composure and fired his right-footed shot straight down Pitman’s throat.