Pompey Reserves suffer defeat at Everton

Alex Bass performed heroics for Pompey Reserves at Goodison Park.
Pompey Reserves were beaten by hosts Everton in the Premier League Cup. Picture: Anthony McArdle/Everton FCPompey Reserves were beaten by hosts Everton in the Premier League Cup. Picture: Anthony McArdle/Everton FC
Pompey Reserves were beaten by hosts Everton in the Premier League Cup. Picture: Anthony McArdle/Everton FC

But the Blues keeper could not prevent a 3-0 defeat to Everton in the Premier League Cup.

A second-half double from Bassala Sambou settled the tie after Nathan Broadhead had fired the Toffees in front before the break.

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Bass, however, was the stand-out performer for Mark Kelly’s visitors – despite gifting Everton their third goal with a mishit clearance from a backpass.

At a windy Goodison Park, a youthful Pompey line-up featured only the stopper, Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Widdrington and Jez Bedford from the first-team squad.

Meanwhile, their opponents named Repulic of Ireland skipper Seamus Coleman in their ranks.

After Widdrington had picked up an early yellow card for a foul on the lively Broadhead, Bass was quickly into the action.

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He saved smartly from Antony Evans after 10 minutes to keep the scores level.

Jordan Brooks was next in the book for a foul on Sambou before Broadhead fired over the top after a swift counter-attack on the half-hour.

The Everton winger got it right on 32 minutes, though, as he latched on to a superb chipped ball over the top from Fraser Hornby to tuck the opening goal past Bass.

He almost doubled his tally two minutes later before Evans was booked for a cynical foul on Bedford.

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Everton wasted no time in increasing their advantage after the interval.

Sambou neatly controlled a throw-in from Luke Garbutt before swivelling and curling the ball beyond Bass from outside the box.

Everton keeper Mateusz Hewelt made a great stop from Dan Smith.

But then Bass came into his own, making a brilliant stop from Broadhead on the angle before acrobatically tipping a first-time effort from Evans over the bar.

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He repeated the feat soon after – again denying the Everton midfielder – before blotting his copybook with a clearance straight to Sambou to make it 3-0.

Bass showed great character to shrug off that setback, though, and deny Evans yet again with a superb stop.

Substitute Bradley Lethbridge had a great chance to net a consolation late on but failed to hit the target.

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