Stanley at the double as Portsmouth XI draw at AFC Totton

Alfie Stanley scored two first-half penalties as a Pompey XI side drew 2-2 against AFC Totton.
Alfie Stanley scored two penalties for Pompey at AFC Totton. Picture: Duncan ShepherdAlfie Stanley scored two penalties for Pompey at AFC Totton. Picture: Duncan Shepherd
Alfie Stanley scored two penalties for Pompey at AFC Totton. Picture: Duncan Shepherd

All four goals arrived in the first half at a windswept Snows Stadium.

First-team players Ben Close and Jack Whatmough started for Pompey, with the former skippering the side.

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Young professional Haji Mnoga and American keeper Duncan Turnbull also featured.

Pompey had the first chance on two minutes when Stanley's first-time effort was saved, although the striker was offside anyway.

The third-year scholar then had a big chance on 10 minutes when he cut out a poor home free-kick, but flashed his left-footed effort into the side netting.

However, Stanley would open the scoring from the penalty spot three minutes later.

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Harrison Brook was brought down inside the area and Stanley coolly converted the spot-kick.

Turnbull was called into action in the 15th minute when he kept out Hisham's effort with his legs, albeit the Totton man was offside.

Then the American keeper was forced to claw the ball from Hisham's feet five minutes later when through on goal.

There was a crazy final five-minutes to the half, with three goals arriving.

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Totton equalised in the 40th minute through Brett Williams when his volley from outside the area snook under the body of Turnbull.

The visitors regained their lead three minutes later - again from the penalty spot.

This time Mason Jones-Thomas was fouled and the keeper couldn't keep out Stanley's penalty despite getting a hand to it.

But the home side would go into the interval level when Craig Feeney converted a low cross at the back post.

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The Blues made a decent start to the second period, with Brook charging into the box before having a shot deflected narrowly wide on 54 minutes.

Turnbull was then nearly caught out at his near post from a free-kick but he managed to scramble to make a good stop.

Charlie Bell then found himself in space in the Totton box but failed to hit the target.

Mnoga counted his blessings with 14 minutes remaining when he brought down a home winger just outside the area, with the subsequent free-kick hitting the wall.

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Substitute Harry Anderson and Brook had chances in the final few minutes but both failed to really test the home keeper as the game finished all square.

Pompey kick off their 2020-21 season against Stevenage in the Carabao Cup first round on Saturday.

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